Autumn-Blooming Colchicum Around My Farm
Wherever you live, I hope you’re able to enjoy the beautiful blooms of those fall perennials called Colchicum.
I love Colchicum and have enjoyed the flowers for many years. Colchicum produces such cheerful colors when most other plants have faded. Over the seasons, we’ve planted a number of colchicum bulb-like corms around my farm - near my front gate, along the edge of my Stewartia garden, and under my tall, handsome bald cypress trees. I am so happy these plants are flourishing and have multiplied in numbers. The blossoms are gorgeous with large, elongated petals of fuchsia and soft lilac - they add a perfect touch of springlike beauty.
Enjoy these photos.
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- The common name for Colchicum is autumn crocus, but they are not true autumn crocus because there are many species of true crocus which are autumn blooming. Also, Colchicum flowers have six stamens while crocuses have only three.
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- Colchicum is a member of the botanical family Colchicaceae and is native to West Asia, Europe, parts of the Mediterranean coast, down the East African coast to South Africa and the Western Cape.
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- The scientific name comes from Colchis, a region on the coast of the Black Sea. The name Colchicum alludes to the poisonous qualities of the species. The plant contains an alkaloid known as colchicine, which is found in all parts, but mostly in the seeds.
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- These flowers are planted as bulb-like corms in late summer to early autumn. Here’s Ryan a couple of years ago, when we planted lots of Colchicum in the Stewartia garden behind my Tenant house. The bulbs came from one of my favorite bulb sources, Brent and Becky’s. https://www.brentandbeckysbulbs.com
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- Colchicums are best grown in a sheltered spot with afternoon sun because this encourages a good succession of wide-open flowers. Colchicums also prefer fertile moderately well-drained soil. Plant bulbs four to six inches deep and space them at least six to 12 inches apart.
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- Some of the varieties we’ve planted include ‘Lilac Wonder’, ‘Waterlily’, ‘Dick Trotter’, Colchicum byzantinum, and Colchicum bornmuelleri. This one is “Waterlily” – a double petaled cultivar.
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- Colchicum typically blooms from September to November. Here are some flowers just beginning to open.
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- When the weather is mild, colchicum’s nearly perfect cup-shape flowers begin to unfurl.
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- Most Colchicum plants produce their flowers without any foliage. This is why these flowers were first known by the common name “naked boys.” In the Victorian era, they were also called “naked ladies.”
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- And then once open, Colchicums produce large, goblet-like blooms in shades of pink, violet or white. They are large striking flower heads, with white at the base leading to pale pink at the apex.
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- When blooming, Colchicum flowers have up to six bright single or double petaled blossoms.
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- These plants are hardy in zones 4 through 9 and when planted well before the first frost, can establish a good root system before winter.
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- Colchicum looks great planted with deciduous shrubs.
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- And grow colchicum in an area protected from winds so the flowers last longer.
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- Colchicums are quite delicate but spread nicely in the autumn garden.
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- Over the years, they’ve multiplied in numbers. These line the carriage road near my front gate.
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- Colchicum is a good pollen source for bees in fall when little else is available for them.
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- I love how they dot the garden with pops of bright pink – guests always stop to look at them.
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- Because Colchicums are toxic, they provide a natural way to repel animals such as deer, mice, squirrels, and moles.
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- If you have a chance, start planting your bulbs and include some fall-blooming colchicum in your beds – you will love them year after year.
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- If we’re lucky, some of these blooms will last into November. Enjoy your fall gardens!
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