Meadow Saffron Colchicum
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Meadow Saffron:
- Phonetic Spelling
- KOHL-chik-um
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Colchicum, or Autumn Crocus, is a perennial herb typically found in pinewoods and mountainous regions. It is a genus of about 45 species of plants from alpine meadows in Europe, North Africa, West and Central Asia, North India and West China. The genus is called autumn crocus because they bloom in fall, but some species bloom in winter or spring. The flowers can be purple, pink, lilac, yellow or white. In late spring, each autumn crocus corm sends up a clump of basal foliage. Foliage gradually yellows and dies by summer as the plants go dormant. Naked flower stems rise from the ground to 4 to 6 inches tall in late summer to early fall bearing cup-shaped, 3 inch flowers. When cultivated it is often used as a houseplant, in a small garden space, along a walkway or border or planted in a lawn.
Autumn Crocus prefers a site with medium moist, well drained, soil; full sun to part shade; and is not cold tolerant, sustaining injury below 14 degrees F (-10 degrees C). The plant does best in a rich loam that does not dry out rapidly. It is best grown in a bulb frame. To grow from bulbs, you should bury the corms to a depth of 3 to 5 inches (12.5 cm) and 6 inches apart. You can plant a bulb in summer for bloom that fall; however, plants can take 4 to 5 years to flower when grown from seed. If necessary, dig and divide during the mid-summer dormant period, but the plant will naturalize by itself over time.
All parts of the plant, especially the bulbs, are highly toxic.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
This can be a difficult species to grow outdoors because of its susceptibility to slug damage.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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C. autumnale
- 'The Giant'
- 'Waterlily'
C. bulbocodium
- 'The Giant'
- C. autumnale, C. bulbocodium, 'The Giant', 'Waterlily'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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C. autumnale
- 'The Giant'
- 'Waterlily'
C. bulbocodium
- 'The Giant'
- C. autumnale, C. bulbocodium, 'The Giant', 'Waterlily'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Colchicum
- Family:
- Colchicaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eurasia and Africa
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- drought, rabbit, and deer
- Bulb Storage:
- Store corms in vermiculite at 63-68 degrees F (17-20 degrees C)
- Edibility:
- Highly toxic and possibly fatal if ingested.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 0 ft. 9 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 0 ft. 9 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Bulb
- Poisonous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Spring
- Fruit Description:
- Seeds ripen in spring and early summer.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Flowers 3 inches long, tubular, 6-parted, purple-pink to white, flowering in autumn.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Four to six lance-shaped, dark green, basel leaves to 14 inches long appear from spring through summer.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Lawn
- Patio
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- High
- Poison Symptoms:
- Highly toxic and can be fatal if ingested. Cramping, vomiting, diarrhea, increased blood pressure, and respiratory failure can result.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Alkaloid colchicine
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Bark
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Roots
- Seeds
- Stems