Everyone can recall delightful spring pictures of daffodils blooming amid groundcovers of pachysandra, English ivy, or vinca.
Perhaps the unforgettable blues of scilla, muscari, and chionodoxa, popping up among covers of earth-hugging spring green, also come to mind.
But, in fall, what bulb flowers are there to echo the liveliness of spring bulbs in a groundcover planting?
Fortunately, there is the colchicum, which should be better known for it has been used satisfactorily for fall bloom with groundcovers for many years.
The white, rosy lavender or violet of its gay late flowers is most striking when used in bold masses, but even if only a few corms are planted, the display will be showy, for each corm produces several blossoms.
The broad basal foliage of colchicum is produced in spring and, after ripening, dies down. When the flowers appear in September, they are entirely devoid of leaves and so benefit from the companionship of a green mat such as a groundcover provides.
Colchicum “Meadow Saffron”
Colchicum is commonly known as meadow saffron and often, erroneously, as autumn crocus because it somewhat resembles the spring crocus. This common name confuses it with the true autumn-flowering crocus, such as Crocus speciosus, which is one of the best.
A simple means of identification is to count the stamens—the crocus, which belongs to the iris family, has three; the colchicum, like other members of the lily family, has six.
The name colchicum is derived from Colchis, an ancient country bordering the Black Sea where these flowers are most plentiful. The powerful drug colchicine is obtained from the corms of this plant.
This drug has been used in medicine for some time, and experiments in plant research during recent years have revealed its effect on the abnormal growth of cell chromosomes.
Through its use, plants have produced remarkable results, the most noteworthy being larger flowers and fruits.
Growing Colchicums
Colchicums grow in either sun or shade but seem to thrive best in part shade. Soil that will support a luxuriant groundcover suits them, and a liberal amount of leaf mold dug into the soil before the groundcover is planted provides adequate preliminary nourishment for the bulbs.
Thereafter, in planting under deciduous trees, the leaves that fall are sufficient fertilizer. No care is necessary, for the colchicum is winter hardy and must not be lifted in fall. What’s more, the ground cover should not have to be thinned to accommodate the corms.
Planting should be done in August as soon as the corms are received. Promptness is important, for the colchicum has a rather determined habit of blooming regardless of whether it is in the soil or a packing box!
When the bulbs are to be planted in an established ground cover, a hatchet will help prepare the holes. Allow for 2” to 3” inches of soil over the top of each corm.
After a few years, transplanting or division will be necessary when the clumps of bulbs become too large. This should be done in June and July during the dormant period.
The Succession of Blooms
Planting the various colchicum species and their hybrids may have a succession of blooms during September and October. Colchicum Byzantium is the earliest species to bloom, with a rather small lilac purple flower.
Following this is C. autumnale of similar coloring and its white form album. A charming species with bold rosy lavender blooms enhanced by white centers is C. bornmuelleri, and one of the most beautiful is the pure white species, C. speciosum album.
Hybrids in Varying Shades of Cattleya
Some of the newer hybrids in varying shades of cattleya purple are outstanding, many growing to a foot in height.
The hybrids, Autumn Queen, Lilac Wonder, The Giant, President Coolidge, and Violet Queen, are all well worth trying.
If the colchicum is grown indoors, it will flower when placed in moist peat moss, which makes a display to delight the shut-in. Children, too, are fascinated by the appearance of such a beautiful flower from an apparently lifeless bulb. It truly seems miraculous.
44659 by Joan R. Higginbotham