A bulbous plant that has become an indispensable part of our HORTVS. In the fall, it pushes its elegant flower calyxes out of the ground in droves, completely leafless. This leafless “nakedness” earned them the name “Naked Ladies” in England.
The lush, glossy foliage appears (without flowers, of course) in the spring and fills many areas that have not yet turned green. In early summer, the foliage withers away, before the flowers reappear in the fall as if out of nowhere. This unusual life cycle makes the autumn crocus a truly special sight in the garden.
Colchicum thrives in almost any garden setting. The autumn crocus does particularly well in sunny to partially shaded locations with fresh to moist, nutrient-rich soil. Once established, it is long-lived and can form impressive clusters over the years.
All parts of this plant are highly poisonous! The autumn crocus contains the highly toxic alkaloid colchicine. Extra caution is needed in the spring, as its leaves can be mistaken for those of wild garlic.
