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(Colchicum speciosum)
Autumn Crocus (Colchicum speciosum)
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User:BotBln
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User:BotBln
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CC BY-SA 3.0
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Photo by: User:BotBln | License Type: CC BY-SA 3.0 | License URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ | Uploader: BotBln | Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Title: Colchicum_speciosum_Flowers_BotGardBln0906.JPG | Notes: |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Colchicum speciosum, commonly known as Autumn Crocus, is a deciduous perennial bulb native to alpine meadows and rocky slopes in Western Asia, particularly in the Caucasus. It typically grows to a height of 0.6 feet (18 cm) and a width of 0.3 feet (9 cm). This plant is notable for its large, cup-shaped flowers that appear in the fall, ranging in color from pink and purple to white, and are quite showy, providing a splash of color when most other plants are preparing for winter. The foliage appears in the spring and dies back by midsummer, leaving the flowers to emerge on naked stems.
The Autumn Crocus is appreciated for its late-season blooms, which offer a unique and vibrant display as the gardening year winds down. It is often used in rock gardens, borders, and woodland gardens. It requires well-drained soil and can tolerate a range of light conditions from full sun to part shade. While it needs regular watering during the growing season, it is relatively low maintenance once established. The cultivars ’Album’ with its pure white flowers and ’Atrorubens’ with amethyst-purple blooms have both received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. Gardeners should be aware that all parts of the plant are highly toxic if ingested and can cause skin irritation upon contact.CC BY-SA 4.0
The Autumn Crocus is appreciated for its late-season blooms, which offer a unique and vibrant display as the gardening year winds down. It is often used in rock gardens, borders, and woodland gardens. It requires well-drained soil and can tolerate a range of light conditions from full sun to part shade. While it needs regular watering during the growing season, it is relatively low maintenance once established. The cultivars ’Album’ with its pure white flowers and ’Atrorubens’ with amethyst-purple blooms have both received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. Gardeners should be aware that all parts of the plant are highly toxic if ingested and can cause skin irritation upon contact.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Bulb
- Height: 0.5-0.6 feet
- Width: 0.15-0.3 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Flower Color: Pink, Purple, White
- Flowering Season: Fall
- Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
- Water: Medium
- Drainage: Medium
Common Uses
Bee Garden, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Fragrant, Low Maintenance, Rabbit Resistant, Rock Garden, Showy Flowers
Natural Habitat
native to alpine meadows and rocky slopes in Western Asia, particularly in the Caucasus
Other Names
Common Names: Showy Colchicum, Prakttidlösa
Scientific Names: , Colchicum speciosum, Colchicum bornmuelleri, Colchicum giganteum, Colchicum latifolium, Colchicum speciosum var. bornmuelleri, Colchicum hyrcanicum, Colchicum lenkoranicum, Colchicum speciosum var. lenkoranicum,
GBIF Accepted Name: Colchicum speciosum Steven