Colchicum (autumn colchicum, Colchicum). Colchicum autumn: planting and care, when to transplant, types and varieties, medicinal properties

Latin name plants - Colchicum. The name speaks: most often in the wild, this flower is found in the south, in Asia and the Mediterranean, and the legendary mention of it goes back to ancient Colchis (Western Georgia). According to one legend, the blood of Prometheus gave life to the flower. In another, it is stated: this is a flower from the garden of the goddess Hecate, the patroness of witches and poisonous plants. It is worth listening: it has long been known that Colchicum Colchicum is extremely poisonous. So you have to be very careful when breeding it.

A word about an amazing flower

When looking at kolchikum, one immediately recalls the spring primrose - crocus: colchicum is surprisingly similar to it. They are not related at all, you just need to look closely. An experienced florist will immediately see the difference: the crocus has a large flower, with six stamens, and the corm is elongated. The crocus flower is smaller and there are only three stamens.

In nature, there are about 65 species of colchicum. Less than a dozen are cultivated in horticulture. And all of them please the eye with an endless variety: simple and terry, colors - from noble white to exquisite purple and delicate pink of all shades, with veins, checkerboard. During the flowering period, leaves are completely absent - and for this the British, great connoisseurs of beauty, call them "naked lady".

Flowering in autumn is a way to adapt to the hot climate of the homeland. Autumn there is the most favorable time, and in summer the plant is at rest and hides from the scorching sun underground. Such species that adapt to the climate belong to the group of ephemerides and are very valuable for the middle zone - they allow you to extend the life of a flowering garden.

Features of planting and caring for colchicum

The life cycle of colchicum is not much different from the cycle of other plants. His autumn bloom lasts 2-3 weeks, at which time pollination occurs. An ovary is formed, it is inside the corm and survives the winter underground, at rest, and the flowers fade and fall off. In spring, the bulb comes to life. Together with the leaves, a box with seeds develops. At the beginning of summer, the seeds fall to the ground, the leaves dry up, and the corm sleeps until autumn, until the time comes to bloom again.

Flower growers are well aware of these features and when breeding they try to follow the natural cycle. The main thing is to create conditions by choosing the right soil, and then colchicum - a very unpretentious flower - will reward you abundant flowering. The soil must be necessarily loose, with a large proportion of sand, well-drained and fertilized with humus. You can also add ash with superphosphate to the soil (per 1 sq. M - a liter of ash and a tablespoon of superphosphate) - for better root growth.

Colchicum decoration of an autumn flower bed

The planting pattern depends on the size of the corm. For large ones, the optimal planting depth is 12-15 cm, the distance between the bulbs is 20-25 cm. Smaller ones are planted closer to the soil surface and more often. Seeds are usually not sown - then flowering will have to wait the same 6-7 years until the bulb is formed.

Once every 6-7 years, it is advisable to transplant the colchicum - the bulbs become crowded, and the flowers become smaller. Transplantation, like landing, is carried out in August, during the dormant period. Corms are sleeping, so they can be safely transferred to a new place. And again a warning: all work - only with gloves! The plant from the garden of Hekate is poisonous, its juice can cause skin burns. This is especially true of a species called autumn colchicum.

Colchicum care comes down to spring top dressing nitrogen fertilizers. Dried leaves are removed in summer, wilted flowers are removed in autumn. For the winter, you can cover the most tender, terry and white varieties with foliage - they do not tolerate frost very well. Colchicum is not required to be watered - it takes all the necessary moisture from the soil. Lighting can be anything - colchicum feels great on the open lawn and in trunk circle garden tree, in the flower garden along with other perennials and on alpine slide. Not a flower - a godsend!

For those who want to enjoy the flowering of plants until autumn, for those who are fond of growing flowers, colchicum is a true treasure. In addition, you do not need to be a great specialist to breed it - it is recommended even to beginner flower growers. Try it, and you will have a great opportunity to spend autumn enjoying the splendor of immortelle!

You will be interested to know:

Colchicum One of the wonders autumn garden- Colchicum flowers (colchicum, autumn, autumn colchicum). For an inexperienced person, their appearance is astonishing, because blooming in autumn, they are so similar to spring crocuses! Although autumn colchicum resembles the primroses familiar to us, it differs from them in larger and brighter colors, life rhythm, chemical composition, properties and other features. What kind of beautiful flowers without visible leaves and stems suddenly appear from the ground, when nature fades outside the window and the first frost touches the ground? For many of us, colchicum is a plant that blooms exclusively in autumn. And this is natural for most types of colchicum. The most famous among them is the autumn colchicum, which received its name for flowering in autumn. But among the representatives of the genus there are colchicum that bloom at the end of summer, for example, Agrippa's colchicum, or early spring species - spring colchicum, water-loving colchicum, tufted colchicum. The popular autumn colchicum is also known by other names, consonant with the names of some plants. For external resemblance to crocus, with which colchicum is not related, autumn colchicum is called poisonous crocus, meadow saffron (crocus and saffron are synonymous names). During flowering late autumn the plant is called an autumn flower, wintering. The last name is an analogue of a flower from the Buttercup family, which has no family ties with colchicum. Autumn colchicum is also known under the name of damn bread, which is given for poisonous properties plants. Another name for the flower is dog onion. The life form of autumn colchicum and other representatives of the genus Colchicum allows us to classify them as ephemeroids. As perennial plants with a short growing season, they spend most of their lives dormant underground. Their underground part is represented modified shoot, in autumn colchicum it is a corm, a kind of hybrid of a bulb and a tuber. Outwardly, the corm resembles a typical bulb with scales. If you cut it, then its core will be homogeneous, without the fleshy scales that onions have. Growing, the corm of one flower with the resulting children can occupy an area of ​​​​up to 20 square meters. cm. Every year, at the end of the growing cycle, the colchicum bulb dies off, forming one to three new corms. Autumn colchicum can be observed from the beginning of spring, when it throws out narrow green leaves with parallel venation, the height of the plant at this time and later does not exceed 15 cm. Autumn colchicum begins to actively accumulate and store carbohydrates in the corm. At the end of which, in the middle of summer, its leaves die off, and a dormant period begins for colchicum. Colchicum flowers appear in autumn with the onset of rainy weather. They are funnel-shaped or bell-shaped, have an identical structure: six petals of lilac, pink, purple, white color; simple, without calyx perianth; six stamens and a three-celled ovary. Colchicum fruit is a box with many seeds, which opens with three wings (according to the number of carpels). Breeders also bred terry varieties of colchicum with many petals, but in natural species there are always only six of them. Despite the similarity of the autumn colchicum flower with the flowers of saffron (crocus), with which it is often confused, colchicum differs from it in chemical composition. So, because of the alkaloid colchicine, named after the plant, Colchicum cannot be eaten like the famous saffron. Belonging to the tropolone series, this alkaloid made beautiful and delicate flower one of the most poisonous. Only after getting on the skin, colchicum juice causes burns, itching, redness. Therefore, when working with an autumn flower, you need to use gloves, especially if there are scratches or wounds on your hands. However, the water in which the colchicum flowers will stand will also turn out to be poisonous due to the alkaloids that have fallen into it. Autumn colchicum in landscape design Kolhikum is very popular with amateur gardeners and landscape designers. Especially people fell in love with colchicum autumn term flowering that appears when most of the flowers have already withered. In spring and summer, beautiful large leaves of autumn colchicum and other late-flowering species can decorate any corner of the garden. But only until the time comes for them to die. You can hide the autumn colchicum leaves that have lost their decorative effect by planting it between plants that can disguise them, for example, between creeping alpine or coastal plants(survivor, periwinkle). Autumn colchicum, like other autumn-flowering types of colchicum, is suitable for group plantings on lawns, in flower beds with perennials, rock gardens or rockeries, for border plantings along paths or ponds. autumn flower can be grown in pots or other containers that are taken outside, displayed on balconies, or left indoors for interior decor. Colchicum autumn can be attributed to unpretentious plants, because it is enough to plant it in suitable place, after which year after year it will bloom and grow. But for successful growth, he needs to provide the necessary lighting, soil and humidity. Sometimes, even the weather can contribute to a good result. Lighting Since the development of autumn colchicum and similar species occurs in two stages (leaves in spring and early summer, flowers in autumn), the plant feels good in partial shade. Moreover, during the flowering of the autumn colchicum, trees and shrubs completely, or partially, shed their leaves. Flowers, unlike the vegetative parts of the plant, do not need sunlight so much - after all, the process of photosynthesis does not occur in their cells, which means that organic compounds are not formed. Colchicum flowers use the nutrients accumulated in the corm. But the leaves that appear in the spring need sunlight. Therefore, a place for colchicum must be selected so that during the period of leaf development (spring-early summer) the plant is not shaded and can be under the sun for at least a couple of hours a day. This should be taken into account when planting colchicum near shrubs, in flower beds, in the company of other plants. Substrate The soil for the autumn colchicum should be with good aeration and drainage, because the plant does not tolerate stagnant water in the soil, which can cause the corms to rot. Clay (too dense) and sandy (poor) substrates are categorically not suitable for autumn colchicum. But the soil with slightly acidic or neutral pH, rich in organic compounds. The soil can be fertilized in early spring, during the development of the leaves or at the end of summer, during the dormant period of the colchicum. To do this, use humus, diluted mullein, mineral fertilizers in dry and liquid form. Care Colchicum, although unpretentious, needs some care. During vegetative growth, with a strong drying of the soil, autumn colchicum needs a little additional watering. During the flowering period, the plant is not watered, as well as colchicum grown in pots. A certain danger can be posed by slugs that eat colchicum flowers growing in the shade or damp places. They need to be controlled and caught in a timely manner. Among other activities for the care of colchicum - weeding, removal of faded buds. The latter prolongs the decorative fit. For the winter, especially slightly frost-resistant species and hybrids based on them, it is worth covering with dry foliage or non-woven covering material. This applies to the following species and their derivatives: Bornmüller Colchicum, Cilician, Byzantine, Bivon Colchicum. Caring for autumn colchicum and other species also implies the timely planting of plants. Otherwise, with a large accumulation of corms, the colchicum will switch exclusively to the vegetative type of reproduction and stop blooming. Usually transplantation is carried out every 2-3 years. The exception is the slightly frost-resistant representatives of the genus listed above, which grow for a long time without a transplant. When to transplant autumn colchicum. Colchicum planting In connection with the unusual life cycle plants often raises the question "When to transplant colchicum?". As with all ephemeroid plants, transplanting or planting autumn colchicum is carried out after the complete death of its leaves, that is, when the colchicum is at rest (from mid-summer to early September). Colchicum corms are dug up, carefully cleaned from the ground and placed to dry in a warm and ventilated place. After that, the corms are seated in a new place. If the planting is returned to its original place, the soil is enriched with compost with a small addition of sand. In especially poor soils, additional fertilizers are applied. The corm is planted to a depth equal to three of its diameters. The distance between the corms is left at 15-20 cm. It is noteworthy that sometimes you can deviate from the rules and transplant the colchicum at another time. unpretentious plant successfully takes root and can even bloom in the year of planting. How to propagate colchicum. Colchicum propagation Colchicum propagates in a vegetative and generative way. Vegetative propagation occurs by dividing corms (planting babies separated from the mother bulb). They are formed annually on each corm from one to three. Dignity vegetative propagation- speed. Within a year or two, new corms will begin to bloom. Reproduction by seeds (generative) takes much longer: autumn colchicum and other species will bloom in this case in 4-5 years. Despite this, this method has its advantage - it allows you to get many plants at once. You can use both methods of reproduction of colchicum: flowering individuals will begin to age over time, and by this period young colchicums will bloom. But more often, propagation of colchicum by seeds is practiced in exceptional cases, in particular for spring-flowering species that do not form daughter corms. Colchicum seeds are harvested after they ripen and immediately sown in the ground. Long term storage Colchicum seeds can reduce their germination. If sowing is carried out in the spring, the seeds are previously stratified for five to six months. Forcing colchicum It is possible to admire the flowering of autumn colchicum in winter, if you do a number of simple operations. For forcing colchicum, you will need a large corm (at least 3 cm in diameter) and a container made of any material: ceramics, plastic, glass, including those without a drainage hole. As a substrate, not only the usual soil mixture for bulbs is suitable, but also a mixture of sand and perlite, fine expanded clay, gravel or decorative colored perlite (for glass containers). The corm is dug up after the death of all the leaves, kept for 15-30 minutes in any fungicide, for example, in a pink solution of potassium permanganate, after which it is placed in a dry and warm place for several days so that it dries. The bulbs are then stored in a cool, dark and dry place. Colchicum forcing is started a month before the expected flowering. Bulbs are planted in containers with a substrate, placed in a well-lit place with limited access to direct sunlight. Contains a pot room temperature, periodically watering until sprouts appear from the soil. After that, the plant is transferred to a sunny place and stop watering. The pot is removed only after the last bud has bloomed. To save corms for future use, a pot of corms after forcing is added dropwise in the garden and sprinkled with snow from freezing. In spring, the colchicum will again throw out its leaves and begin a new life. You can also store a pot with corms in another cool place, protecting it from freezing, for example, on a balcony, and plant colchicum in the garden in early spring. Colchicum autumn: medicinal properties As you know, all poisonous plants are medicinal, the only question is their dosage and proper use. Colchicum is no exception. The healing properties of autumn colchicum are provided by the alkaloid type substance contained in it - colchicine. Based on colchicine, a drug of the same name was created. In order to obtain it in some countries of Europe and Asia, colchicum is even cultivated. After that, a medicinal substance is obtained from its bulbs and seeds. In medicine, preparations based on Colchicum are used to prevent amyloidosis (Mediterranean familial fever) and to treat gout. Colchicine is also widely used in genetic engineering as a drug that causes mutations. In particular, it is used for plant breeding and the development of new decorative forms of flowers. In folk medicine, the use of colchicum is wider. Despite the benefits of the plant, you can self-medicate or use colchicum tinctures or juice on your own only on the recommendation and with the permission of a doctor.

All summer Colchicums patiently wait for autumn to paint the garden in crimson and gold, and only after making sure that the stage is ready for them, they appear before the public, striking in the spring with rapid flowering. So the ideas of autumn cottage design can be scheduled for late autumn.

When Colchicum Blooms

It is well known that everything has its time - the time to bloom, bear fruit and retire. But these autumn garden flowers, called Colchicum (Colchicum - Colchicum) set their own rules.

Colchicum blooms when other garden plants are already preparing for winter, in this it surpasses even the late beauty Buddley. Madness! Will the seeds have time to ripen in the time left before the cold weather? However, Colchicum is not afraid of winter, the ovaries of new shoots will successfully winter under the snow and ripen with renewed vigor in the spring in the sun.

seeds, bulb, flower

A large box with seeds, covered in the middle of a bundle of leaves, will appear simultaneously with them only next year.

An interesting feature of this plant is its “pedicel”, because it is not a stalk at all, as it seems at first glance, but a strongly elongated flower tube into which all six of its petals grow together. The ovary itself is located inside the corm, which is hidden underground.

This is what allows the set seeds to safely winter and continue development in the new season.

The most interesting feature Colchicums in that they always bloom unexpectedly. So even if you have been cultivating this plant for more than a year and are not going to be surprised at the sight of “naked” flowers without leaves, their appearance will still take you by surprise, because they are unpredictable.

As if by a wave of a magic wand, lilac, blue or white buds appear overnight from the ground. The leaves that grow in spring dry up by July and over the summer you can simply forget that something grew here.

Colchicums are sometimes called autumn Crocuses. But although the plants look similar from the outside, there is no reason to assign other people's names to them.

What is the difference between Crocus and Colchicum

1. Among the Crocuses there are species that bloom in autumn, including Crocus sowing, which gives the famous spice - saffron.
2. Some Colchicums bloom not in autumn, but in spring.
3. Crocuses belong to the family of iris (orca)
4. And Colchicums - to daylilies,
5. Crocuses have 3 pokes, and Colchicums have 6

However, according to the new classification, according to scientists, Colchicum is separated into a separate family. So these autumn beauties now have a separate family - Colchicaceae.

The most famous of them are b. autumn S. autumnale and b. beautiful C. speclosum, represented by various cultivars.

Colchicum varieties

B. autumn in nature lives in damp meadows and forest glades in Western Europe. So the conditions of our gardens will please him very much. This species and its varieties attract not only with their beauty, but also with good winter hardiness.

The largest of all b. beautiful, growing wild in the mountains of the Caucasus, Turkey and Iran, it is also winter-hardy. Wormwood-cereal steppes of the North Caucasus and the Volga region - the birthplace of the b. bright or cheerful (C. leaetum) In the garden, it is desirable to provide him with a dry sunny place, for example, in a rockery (alpine hill), where he will feel comfortable with sagebrush and decorative fescue.

Alpine colchicum, including blooming in spring b. Kesselringa from the Pamirs - Altai and Tien - Shan do not tolerate excess moisture. Drainage for them is a prime necessity.

More capricious species require certain experience and special conditions from flower growers, while the old proven varieties will not bring problems even to beginners.

Flowers of garden Colchicum funnel-shaped tepals large-flowered varieties reach a length of about 10 cm. In other varieties, the flowers are smaller, like crocuses, or even smaller.

The main color of these plants is lilac with shades in different varieties.

Poison Colchicum

Yes, the plant is poisonous. And even the water in which the plucked flower was located is also not safe. Many poisonous ornamental plants are grown in the garden:

• lily of the valley,
• aconite,
• catchment,
• hellebore,
• digitalis

However, they do not scare anyone, but the fleshy, appetizing-looking leaves are often confused with wild garlic (bear onions) with all the ensuing circumstances.

Autumn cottage design with flowers

For all its beauty, the large legs of Colchicums are weak, so the autumn wind and rain can easily spoil the picture of your autumn summer cottage design, scattering flowers on the ground. In addition, lone flowers sticking out in the bare ground look somehow out of place and dull. There is a way out - to pick up successful companions for them.

Suitable for this purpose:

• claret,
• byzantine cleaner,
• openwork wormwood,
• purple-leafed tenacs,

In fact, these are ground cover plants, and so that they do not grow to disgrace, you should choose more restrained varieties. Perfectly suited and selected according to the timing of flowering:

• creeping phlox,
• cloves,
• yaskolka,
• Goryanka,
• tiarella,
• nepeta,
• low varieties of geyhera,
• miniature hosts,
• small ferns,
• periwinkle,
• fortune,
• heather,
• juniper,

All these plants, as well as ornamental cabbage, more or less coincide in terms of flowering with crocus, well, they are the best suited for a garden in a natural style.

Growing and care rules

When to plant Colchicum

Corms are planted in the sun or in partial shade in August. The bulbs are buried 3/4 of the height of the bulb. Plants prefer loamy soil and can grow in one place for many years.

Colchicum care

In spring and autumn, if there is no rain for a long time, watering will not interfere. In summer, watering is not required. In spring and autumn, if desired, you can feed the plants - ntroamofoska 40 - 50 g / sq. M. But simple, unpretentious varieties, as a rule, they do without it, they develop and bloom beautifully.

To protect against freezing, non-resistant varieties, including white-colored and terry, for the winter, it is advisable to mulch with a layer of humus, cover with foliage or spruce branches. It is important to remember that Colchicum wakes up very early in spring, so you should remove mulch, foliage or spruce branches in time.

Pests

Slugs and snails that just love juicy leaves. The most environmentally friendly way is hand picking.

dry distillation

Colchicum has an amazing ability to bloom without land and even without water, unlike the forcing of other bulbs. It is enough to put one or more bulbs in a suitable vessel or container and flowering will not take long. After flowering "dry", the plant should still be planted in the garden, where they will immediately take root successfully.

So if you understand and love these autumn garden flowers, then colchicum will keep your garden design almost until the first snow.

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Where does it prefer to grow?

In nature, various types of colchicum (colchicum) are common in Europe, the Mediterranean, Malaya and Central Asia. In Russia, they can be found on the territory of the Caucasus, Krasnodar Territory, cultural species - in regions with a temperate climate.

Colchicum loves sunny places, or light partial shade. The culture does not tolerate swampy and damp soils. Colchicum does not impose any special requirements on the composition of the soil. But if it is loose, light, mixed with compost and humus, then the flowers on the plant will grow larger.

When to plant colchicum

IN open ground autumn tuber planted, starting from the second half of August. During this period, the tuber is at rest.

It is important to control the bulbs prepared for planting. If sprouts appear, then this serves as a signal to start planting. It is impossible for the sprouts to be long; when planting, there is a high probability of damaging them.

Landing Rules

Despite the unpretentiousness of the perennial, you need to know the minimum mandatory conditions autumn planting in open ground:

• The soil for planting is prepared in advance - 1 tbsp. l. superphosphate and 1 liter of ash per 1 sq. m of landing area. Previously, the soil is dug up with the addition of a bucket of humus and 5 liters of sand per 1 sq. m. Fertilizers allow you to form powerful leaves, which then feed the tubers.
• The depth of the hole for the tuber depends on its size and the composition of the soil. On light soils, the planting depth is somewhat greater than on heavy soils. Small bulbs are planted to a depth of 6-8 cm, large bulbs are planted deeper (12-15 cm). When determining the depth of the hole, you can focus on the diameter of the tuber and make a hole with a depth of 3 diameters of a particular tuber.
• At the bottom of each landing hole, 2-3 handfuls of river sand are poured. The corm is placed in the hole with the tube up. The tube formed by the scales should stick out of the ground. Care must be taken that it does not bend or get damaged. You can't cut it.
• The soil is moistened and mulched.
• Colchicum will bloom in 4-6 weeks.

Reproduction methods

Colchicum can be propagated by offspring located around an adult bulb or by seeds.

Reproduction by daughter corms

This is the most efficient and easy way reproduction of this plant.

• Planting material is harvested when the colchicum seeds are ripe and the leaves have withered and died, around mid-July.
• Dig up the tubers carefully, trying not to damage them.
• Corms are cleaned from the ground, from the leaves, the "children" are separated.
• The scales covering the corms do not need to be removed.
• Then, the separated bulbs are kept in a weak solution of potassium permanganate, dried in a dry, semi-dark place at + 24C.
• Direct planting of tubers in the ground occurs in August.

It is important to replant the autumn tree every 3-5 years. If this is not done, then many “babies” will form around one corm, flowering may stop.

Can be propagated with seeds far from any colchicum. Propagated in this way wild species, spring-flowering, or species that do not form daughter tubers.

This method of reproduction is rarely used by flower growers. Seedlings grown from seeds bloom only after 5-7 years, as the tubers need a lot of time to gain strength for flowering.

However, the technology for sowing colchicum with seeds in open ground is as follows:

• Seeds are ready for planting immediately after harvest.


• Before sowing, seeds are soaked for several hours in warm water, then washed. After washing, the seeds germinate better.
• It is necessary to make drainage into the furrows for sowing, pour a layer of pebbles sprinkled with sand.
• It is necessary to sow the seeds to a depth of 1-3 cm. They will germinate only in the next spring, and sometimes even later.
• Care of crops consists in weeding and moistening the soil.
• Moisten the soil with crops until the leaves die off.
• 2.5 months after germination, the plant will form a small corm.
• For the winter, young plantings need to be covered.

Colchicum care after planting

Caring for colchicum is easy. Many standard methods of caring for perennials are not needed for this flower.

Autumn people are afraid only of snowless winters with severe frosts. Snow-white and terry forms are more sensitive to frost than all other representatives of the colchicum. Therefore, sometimes it is better to plant tubers to a greater depth (up to 40 cm), and mulch plantings for the winter with peat.

Watering

Colchicum easily dispenses with watering, excessive moisture is contraindicated, as it leads to rotting of the bulbs. When caring for a colchicum, this circumstance cannot be overlooked.

In spring, there is enough moisture in the soil after the snow melts. By the middle of summer, the development of the colchicum ends - the perennial has a dormant stage. He does not need moisture at this time.

Watering may be needed only during flowering, and then only if there is little moisture in the ground. In this case, the flowers are watered once a week, trying not to get water on the flower petals.

top dressing

Top dressing is necessary before planting the plant in open ground. In spring, flowers are fed with nitrogen-containing fertilizers. This helps to form powerful leaves that will allow the tuber to accumulate strength for full flowering.

After flowering, colchicum is fed with universal and organic fertilizers.

Pests and diseases

Pests

Snails and slugs are the most dangerous enemies colchicum. Eating the green mass of the plant, they weaken it, spoil the appearance.

Fighting methods. To combat snails, slugs, you can set traps or use molluscicides.

You can protect the plant from molluscs by filling the space between the plants with crushed eggshell or needles. The uneven, rough surface prevents the movement of molluscs.

Diseases

Gray rot- a fungal disease.

Causes. Gray rot appears when the soil is waterlogged.

Fighting methods. With a weak lesion, the plant should be treated with drugs: Topaz, Kuproksat.

Important! Heavily affected parts of the colchicum must be removed, and the watering regime should be balanced.

Do I need to dig bulbs?

There is no need to dig up the tubers annually. Tubers that have grown a sufficient number of "children" are subject to digging. As a rule, this happens after 3-5 years of plant growth in one place. Due to crowding, the flowers become smaller, or flowering stops altogether.

It is necessary to dig up the bulbs when the leaves begin to wither. Roughly this occurs in July or early August. No need to wait until the leaves are completely dry. Because dry leaves are easily separated from the bulb and there is a high probability of losing the bulb in the ground. Leaves serve as a kind of marker for finding bulbs.

The most famous varieties

Of the variety of colchicum species in our gardens, 2 species are most often grown: autumn and magnificent, as well as several more attractive species:

autumn colchicum

Autumn kolchikum comes from Europe, from wet meadows. This species is a classic of all late-flowering colchicum.

• Flowering occurs in September-October.
• The length of the leaves is 40 cm.
• Flowers about 7 cm in diameter, 1-8 pieces from one bulb. The autumn colchicum palette is represented by white and pale purple flowers.

It has several cultural forms:

• Colchicum Double Alboplenum- differs in white terry flowers.
• Colchicum atropurpureum blooms in September small flowers. As it grows, the color of the flowers changes from purple to dark red.
• Colchicum Nancy Lindsay has large flowers. Each petal has inside a white line goes through.

Colchicum splendid

The magnificent colchicum grows in Transcaucasia, Turkey, in the north of Iran. The leaves of the magnificent colchicum grow up to 50 cm in height. But they appreciate it for large flowers, blooming in 1-5 pieces. from one tuber.
Colchicum blooms magnificent in September-October. This species is actively used for breeding new varieties.

The best varieties of magnificent colchicum are:

• Premier- with long flowering until frost and with flowers of pink shades;
• Huxley- flowers and leaves are large, the color of the petals from the center to the edges becomes more saturated;
• waterlily- double flowers lilac.

Kolhikum Bornmüller

Kolhikum Bornmüller lives in northern Turkey. The flowers are purple with a white core, 12 cm in diameter. The base of the perianth tube has a greenish-purple tint. From one tuber grows from 1 to 6 buds. Colchicum Bornmüller resembles a miniature lily. Blooms from late September until frost.

Colchicum Cilician

Kolhikum Cilician grows in the south of Turkey, in Syria, Lebanon. In Cilician Colchicum, leaves begin to grow by the end of flowering. From one bulb, 3-10 pink flowers with a checkerboard pattern and honey aroma develop. Flower height 10 cm.

Colchicum Byzantine

Byzantine Colchicum - obtained from Cilician Colchicum, with which it is very similar in appearance. But the Byzantine kolchikum begins to bloom in early September, and the Cilician - in October. The tubers are large in size - up to 20 lilac-pink wide-open flowers grow from one. Does not form seeds.

Colchicum Agrippina

Kolhikum Agrippina - a hybrid with experience. It is notable for bright pink flowers with a checkerboard pattern. Flowering occurs in August - September. 1-3 flowers 5-10 cm high appear from one tuber. It does not form seeds, but it reproduces well by tubers.

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Olga Antonenko 03/12/2014 | 2365

Not everyone knows about the existence of autumn-blooming crocuses. Sometimes they are mistaken for colchicum. But this is absolutely false.

Somehow it so happened that flower growers grow only “white” and “blue” crocuses from crocuses, but they are not aware of the variety of varieties and species of this plant. And the fact that, in addition to spring-blooming ones, there are also autumn-blooming ones, many do not even know at all. It is believed that all this is colchicum. But this is absolutely not true. I myself had to get acquainted with autumn-blooming crocuses a few years ago.

They bloom almost before the snow covers the ground. True, in cloudy weather, the flowers may not open. But both unopened buds and delicate dark green leaves with a white stripe in the middle are a miracle how good! And if on a cloudy autumn day it turns out to be a sunny hour or two, crocus crumbs will definitely show bright orange branched stigmas peeking out of the corolla. By the way, the leaves begin to develop after the flower bud itself is ready to open, continue to grow during and after flowering. When the growing season ends, the leaves wither, and one or three young replacement bulbs form in the ground.

Autumn-blooming crocuses need to be in time plant in August. To do this, the bulb must be placed in the ground on a layer of sand, deepening it by about two heights. If you don’t guess with the degree of deepening, it doesn’t matter: the bulb itself will either “pull” itself to the desired depth, or “push” it closer to the surface. crocuses non-capricious, they will grow everywhere - in the sun, in the shade, on a hillock, in a lowland, so long as there is no stagnant water. TO soils crocuses are undemanding. Manure is not tolerated in any form. Complex fertilizers are approved. Watering it is possible infrequently, but loosening the ground and removing weeds should be done regularly. Transplant preferably every 4-5 years. If you are late with a transplant, the flowers will be crushed, and numerous bulbs will stick out of the ground.

It is possible to transplant autumn crocuses, if absolutely necessary, during flowering, if the plant is transferred quickly and with a clod of earth. But keep in mind: the transplanted specimen will fade very quickly, the leaves will die off after the flower, and the bulb will be weakened. It will not bloom for a year, or even two.

Among the autumn-blooming crocuses, the most interesting are the following types: crocus beautiful And crocus pretty .

Crocuses can be used for distillation at home. But very often it turned out that the bulb woke up, the bud “went” and suddenly dried up. Is it the hot and dry air in the dwelling that is the reason, or did I take the wrong varieties ?!

In their natural habitat, crocuses are unpretentious, almost not affected by diseases. Their only serious enemy is mice, which are very fond of feasting on bulbs.

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Differences between colchicum and crocus

A person who does not understand gardening will not be able to immediately distinguish between crocus and colchicum. But, there are several characteristic features that will help distinguish these two plants:

• leaves. Colchicum has broader, glossier leaves, while crocus has narrower leaves with a white stripe down the center;
• flowers. Most of the colchicum flowers are colored in pink tones. As for the crocus, its flowers are much smaller in size, and blue-violet prevails in color shades;
• stamens. The colchicum has six stamens, while the crocus has only three;
• corms size. Colchicum has smaller corms than crocus.

Those who think that colchicum and crocus are one and the same are very much mistaken, since colchicum is a poisonous plant. As for the crocus, it is an absolutely safe plant for both animals and humans. More than this, crocus flowers are even used in modern cooking. And in the question of when to plant a colchicum, experienced gardeners can help.

Features of crocuses

Continuing to further understand the differences between autumn crocus and colchicum, you should study all the characteristic features of the first plant. While discussing this plant, Special attention should pay attention to the following points:

1. Top dressing.
2. Landing.
3. Watering.
4. The soil.

Top dressing. An ideal option for top dressing for crocus are mineral fertilizers. Such a fertilizer can be used even earlier in the spring, or rather, water the plant with it, even if there is still snow on the ground. It is advisable to additionally mulch the ground in which the crocus grows, using peat chips or ordinary fallen leaves. This is necessary in order for the plant to survive severe frosts during the winter. If the crocus bulb did not survive the frost and died, you do not need to immediately throw it away, since the buds that surround it may well give offspring.

Watch a video about what crocuses look like.

Landing. Often the depth of planting a crocus is determined depending on the size of its bulb. If the bulb large sizes, then it needs to be buried in the ground by 10 centimeters, if it has an average size, then 5 centimeters is enough. The gap between the bulbs should be at least ten centimeters. When planting this plant, keep in mind that planting too deep can significantly slow down vegetative propagation.

Watering. Housewives who grow crocuses must constantly ensure that the soil is always properly moistened. And as soon as sprouts begin to appear from the corms, they need to be watered systematically. But, after a while, you need to water only as needed. Try to let the soil dry out between waterings.

The soil. In order for a plant to develop well, it must grow in fertile soil. If you initially plant the crocus in good soil, then during its flowering, you will not need to use additional fertilizers to stimulate growth. And also, one should not forget that many people really like the way the colchicum blooms.

Crocus is popularly called saffron. And it has long been known that saffron is one of the excellent spices for cooking delicious dishes. But, such a spice cannot be collected from ordinary flowers that grow in our flower beds. For culinary purposes, you need to grow a special seed crocus.

Most crocuses bloom in autumn. Autumn varieties of crocuses begin to bloom only in leaf fall. Of course, they cannot please you for too long with their flowering, but even in this short period, these flowers will give you a little piece of summer and warmth. Most often they are used for the following purposes:

• to elegantly decorate the lawn;
• as an interesting accent in small groups of different colors;
• to highlight the floral range along the edge of the flower beds;
• for decoration of water objects.

Read about which flower to choose at home.
And also about care after flowering for cyclamen.

The uniqueness of this plant also lies in the fact that it can also be grown as room culture. However, it should be taken into account that as houseplant the flower will shift the flowering period. By the way, the flowering period depends on the time of planting the bulb, and not on the natural life cycle.

Description of the colchicum

When choosing a location for planting colchicum, it is best to give preference to a sunny area. This plant will thrive in absolutely any soil:

• alkaline;
• sour;
• neutral;
• in clay.

When landing, you should adhere to the following recommendations:

1. Before planting, it is appropriate to pre-dig the area and add a little humus there.
2. During the planting of the plant, it is desirable to fill the soil abundantly with superphosphate.
3. The distance between the bulbs should be at least 15 centimeters.

When you are looking for an answer to the question, are colchicum and crocus the same or not, then, first of all, you will find information that colchicum is a poisonous plant. But, do not think that this is an excuse to refuse to plant these extremely beautiful flowers. To protect yourself and your loved ones, just make sure that there is no way for children and animals to get into the flower bed. And also, while working with such a plant, be sure to wear special gloves. By following these tips from growing colchicum in your flower bed, you will only enjoy and can be absolutely calm.

If you do not know what is better to choose an autumn crocus or colchicum for your garden, then you can stop at two options at once. Since their combination has special charm and sophistication. To understand why colchicum is poisonous, you can search for such information on the Internet.

Which flower do you like more - crocus or colchicum? Leave your opinion in the comments, and also watch a video about how colchicum looks like.

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Autumn crocuses - a description of the culture

• Crocuses are often referred to as saffron by gardeners. These delicate buds bloom not only in early spring. Many groups of crocuses bloom almost at the very end of the season, after the onset of leaf fall. Such a culture blooms just as briefly as its spring variety.
• The autumn type of crocuses can be grown not only in garden plots, but also in pots, as well as as a houseplant. In the last two planting options, the flowering period is artificially shifted and it depends on the time of planting the bulbs in the ground, and not on the natural ripening phase.
• Crocus for autumn planting refers to perennial herbaceous crops of the iris family. It can bloom for 3-4 years in a row in one place and eventually form a whole family of crocuses. Resistant to weather changes and opens its bud from September to November, depending on the variety. Many autumn crocuses grow even at temperatures of 4-8 degrees above zero. The flowering period can be from 10 to 20 days.

• Flower tubers are a bulb up to 3 cm in diameter, covered with dry scales. The autumn crocus bud is a wide or, conversely, a narrow glass. Flowers of some types of culture can reach a height of up to 11 cm.
• Each bud is located on a separate stem, which is very fragile in crocus. The leaves are oblong in shape and are located on the stalk at its base, mostly closer to the root region. Depending on the variety, from one bulb can grow from 2 to 7 flowers.
• After a period of pollination, the bud of the autumn crocus begins to dry out and rebuilds for a dormant period. Some varieties of culture form the fruit immediately after flowering - in the fall, but only leaves are released in the spring. Other types of crocuses develop a fruit box only in the spring. These features should be taken into account when planting certain varieties of autumn crocuses.
• The fruits of the autumn crocus are like a box with 3 nests, in which there are seeds round shape. There are about 300 varieties of crocus, each of which differs not only in the color of the petals, but also in the shape of the bud and growing features.
• Inexperienced gardeners often confuse crocuses with autumn colchicum, which in turn belong to the lily family. You can distinguish such a garden culture by the color of the petals on the bud and the greater number of stamens in it. Plant bulbs also vary in size. So in the autumn crocus it is no more than 3 cm in diameter, and the colchicum has a bulb of a much larger volume.
• In addition, colchicum belongs to poisonous varieties, which are often mistaken for autumn crocuses. Therefore, it is best to purchase crocuses for autumn planting from trusted sellers or specialized nurseries.

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Such herbaceous plant is a perennial, and it is also an ephemeroid. It has a large number of short shoots, on which there are large lanceolate-elongated leaf plates. They grow and develop during the spring, and by the beginning summer period completely die off. On the surface of the corms is a brown shell. Such a shell forms a long tube that covers lower part flower. Most species of colchicum bloom in spring. However, in some species, flowering occurs in the spring. Solitary funnel-shaped flowers grow from the soil. The length of such a flower, together with the perianth fused into a tube (its most of located below the soil surface) is 20 centimeters. The fruit is a three-celled oval spherical capsule. Such a plant contains poison, Dioscorides himself mentioned this in his works. It should be remembered that the poison is in any part of this plant.

The seed method of propagation of colchicum takes a large amount of time. The fact is that a plant grown in this way begins to bloom only after 6 or 7 years, after the bulb grows and gains strength. However, only a few species of this plant that bloom in spring can be propagated in this way, as well as species that do not form daughter bulbs (for example, yellow colchicum). For sowing seeds, moist, loose soil saturated with nutrients is used. Mature seeds are sown almost immediately after they are collected (usually at the beginning of the summer period). Immediately before sowing, they are immersed in clean water for a while. Close up the seeds are not deep. In the event that it was not possible to sow the seeds immediately after harvest, then before direct sowing they will need to be subjected to a semi-annual stratification. To do this, they must be placed on the shelf of the refrigerator. Instead of soaking, it is recommended to put the seeds in a sock or stocking that needs to be fixed inside drain tank toilet. After each flush, the seeds are washed, which removes inhibitors, and this contributes to a significant increase in seed germination.

Seeds should be sown in open ground. Before sowing seeds, holes are made in the garden, at the bottom of which a good drainage layer should be placed, and not much sand should be poured on top of it. The first shoots can be seen only with the onset of the next autumn period, however, sometimes seedlings appear somewhat later. Caring for colchicum seedlings will not be difficult. So, it is necessary to thin out the seedlings and when it is necessary to water them, while watering stops after dying sheet plates, also do not forget to make regular weeding. And young plants need to be covered in the fall so that they do not freeze out in winter. In order to grow such a flower from seeds, experience and patience are required.

What time to plant

For planting colchicum, it is recommended to choose well-lit areas, however, even in slight shading, they grow and develop quite well. But it should be noted that if such a flower is planted in a shady place under the trees, then slugs can start on it. Plants need well-drained soil, because their root system reacts negatively to stagnant water. For planting, you can choose alkaline or acidic soil, as well as not very heavy clay, which should not be oversaturated with moisture. Next to such flowers, it is recommended to place juniper or peonies, the fact is that their beautiful leaves will distract from the colchicum at a time when its foliage becomes yellow and inconspicuous.

Those species that bloom in autumn should be planted in mid-August. If the bulb is large enough, then it can bloom in the first year.

When planting such a plant in open ground, it is necessary to observe a distance between specimens, which is equal to 10–20 centimeters. Small onions should be planted to a depth of at least 8 centimeters, and large ones - no more than 20 centimeters. During the planting of the bulbs in the soil, you need to add wood ash(1 liter of substance per 1 square meter), as well as superphosphate (1 full large spoon per 1 square meter). During planting, special attention should be paid to the tubes on the bulb, which are formed by scales. They must necessarily look out of the ground, as buds will subsequently appear from them. Such a tube should not be cut off, since in this case the resulting bud will need to push the heavy layer of soil apart in order to get to its surface. Before planting, the soil must be prepared, for this, during digging, half a bucket of sand and 1 bucket of humus per 1 square meter are added to it. Colchicum planted with bulbs begin to bloom after 1.5 months.

There is nothing complicated in caring for such a plant. Watering should be done only at a time when the plant is flowering, and then this should be done only during a period of prolonged drought and heat. At other times, watering such a flower should not be done, because it will have enough natural precipitation. Remember to avoid waterlogging the soil.

Top dressing is carried out 2 or 3 times per season. To do this, use a complex mineral fertilizer (30 grams per 1 square meter), while preparing a weak solution (2 grams of the substance per 1 liter of water). Remember that the composition of the fertilizer must necessarily include nitrogen. In autumn, compost should be added to the soil. It is also necessary to systematically loosen the surface of the soil and remove weeds.

In the same place, this flower can be grown for a long time (about 6-7 years), then it must be transplanted to a new place. However, experienced gardeners advise transplanting at least once every 2 or 3 years, otherwise the bulbs grow and become very crowded, while the flowers become smaller.

August is considered the best time for both planting and transplanting such a plant. At this time, the colchicum is at rest. However, the digging of the bulbs must be done in advance, after the leaf plates turn yellow, as a rule, this time falls on the second half of June. Carefully remove the soil from the bulbs, and also remove the remaining leaves. Separate the child bulbs from the parent bulbs, it should be noted that the latter are not used for subsequent planting. Then the onions should be washed carefully in running water, after which they are placed in a solution of potassium permanganate for disinfection for 30 minutes. Then the tubers need to be thoroughly dried and stored in a dry, dark place, while the air temperature should be approximately 24 degrees. With the onset of August, the separated daughter bulbs must be planted in the ground. In this case, the landing rules are exactly the same as those used for planting the colchicum (described above). Don't forget to fertilize the soil first.

Snails, as well as slugs, can settle on such a flower. Such pests feed on its leaves. If the soil is almost constantly waterlogged, then this can cause the development of gray rot. In order to avoid the appearance of slugs, the surface of the row spacing should be covered with a layer of crushed shells, fine gravel or egg shells. And along the perimeter of the site, you can place gutters made of plastic into which you need to pour water. They will become an insurmountable barrier to slugs and snails.

If long time Colchicum is regularly watered abundantly, then gray rot, which belongs to fungal diseases, may appear on it. In the event that the flower is not very infected, then you can try to cure it. To do this, it is recommended to treat the bush with Champion, Topaz, Kuproksat or another agent similar in action. Before processing, cut and burn those parts of the plant that are severely affected. Then you need to revise the irrigation schedule.

There are gardeners who, in order to preserve the attractiveness of the flower garden, cut off the faded flowers and leaves of such a plant. However, this is by no means necessary. The fact is that a ripening onion needs all the vitality. In this regard, it is necessary to remove from the site only those parts that have fallen off on their own.

The main types and varieties with photos

Most of the colchicum species bloom in autumn. However, there are also species that bloom in early spring, but they are not so popular with gardeners.

spring blooming

This species in natural conditions prefers to grow in the edges of the rocky glaciers of the Himalayas, Pamirs, Tien Shan and Tibet. It has been cultivated since 1882. The flowering of such a plant begins immediately after the snow cover melts. Three-centimeter diameter flowers have a rich yellow color, while their height is not more than 15 centimeters. Flat leaf plates, painted in dark green, grow at the same time as the flowers.

Hungary is considered the birthplace of such a flower, but it can also be found in Greece, Albania, and also in the territory of the former Yugoslavia. Flowering occurs at the end winter period or early spring. Pink-purple or white flowers have maroon anthers. The upper part and edge of the leaf blades, which grow at the time when the plant blooms, have a dense coating of hairs on their surface. The most popular variety is Velebit Star.

This plant is considered the earliest ephemeroid. So, in some cases, its flowering begins in the last days of December, and ends in April. Under natural conditions, this species can be found in Moldova, in the southwestern regions of Ukraine, in the Crimea, as well as in the western regions of Turkey. Each specimen has 3 narrow, oblong, grooved leaves of a bluish color, the edge of which is ciliated, as well as from 2 to 4 pink-purple flowers.

Under natural conditions, it is most often found in subalpine and alpine zones, which are located at an altitude of at least 2 thousand meters above sea level. And this kind can be found in the Tien Shan and the Pamirs. There is an oblong onion and 2–7 obtuse grooved leaflets, the edge of which is finely serrated or smooth. On the specimen, there are from 1 to 4 flowers of white color, on the wrong side of the lobes of the limbs there are purple-purple stripes. Flowering begins immediately after the snow cover has melted.

And popular with gardeners are such species as: Sovicha, water-loving and puffy.

Autumn blooming

Prefers to grow in meadows and forest clearings. Under natural conditions, this species can be found in European countries from the Carpathians and Latvia to England and Western France. He is sometimes met at an altitude of more than 2 thousand meters above sea level. The bush of such a plant in height reaches no more than 40 centimeters. Flat, erect, oblong-shaped leaf blades grow in spring, and by the beginning of summer they turn yellow and wither. From one bulb grows from 1 to 4 flowers, painted in pale lilac or white, with a diameter of 7 centimeters. The following forms are more popular:

1. autumn white- this form in natural conditions can be met infrequently. From the middle of September, 5-7 flowers appear on one bulb, the length of which is not more than 15 centimeters. Their center is yellow, and the perianth is snow-white.
2. Autumn terry- the length of purple flowers is about 12 centimeters, while their diameter is 5 centimeters. Each flower has many petals (about 35 pieces). The length of the dark green leaf plates is 25 centimeters, and their width is 4 centimeters. Flowering begins later than other species, namely, in the last days of October.
3. Autumn white terry- each double white flower has about 45 petals. The plant blooms from mid-September.
4. autumn neddyste- this form was brought out in the Czech Republic. The flowers are light pink.

And there are also such forms in which the flowers are painted in dark purple or purple. The flowers of the Beaconsfield variety have a white center and a purple-pink color.

This species is native to Turkey, Transcaucasia and Northern part Iran. The height of the bush is about half a meter. The length of the rich green leaf plates is about 30 centimeters, and their width is 6 centimeters. The leaves have a wavy edge. They die off by the beginning of the summer period. Large flowers are painted in lilac or pink-lilac color, they have a long tube of white color. Flowering begins in September. This species has many garden forms, for example: dark red, Turkish, white, giant, etc. The most popular varieties are:

1. Huxley- pinkish-lilac flowers gradually change their color to rich purple.
2. waterlily- Terry flowers of lilac color.
3. Premier This variety is late flowering. Its flowers are very bright and have a lilac-pink color.

In addition to these autumn-flowering species, they also grow such as: Fomina, Stevin, Trudy, Sibtrop, Jerusalem, shady, bright, Pannonian, Neapolitan, Kochi, Cilician, Byzantine, motley, Bornmuller, dark purple, etc.

Among the hybrid forms, the most popular are: Autumn Herald, Princess Astrid, Dick Trotter, Violet Queen.

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Colchicum. This flower has a strange name, although it reflects its essence as accurately as possible. Not at the right time he opens his bright bells, as if looking in surprise at the rebellious flocks of yellow leaves under the slanting spray of the first autumn rain. It is unlikely that anyone will remain indifferent, looking at this small miracle. Colchicum is often called autumn crocus, it really is very similar to (saffron) that blooms immediately after the snow melts. The real, his botanical name is kolchikum ( Colhicum) and it belongs to the lily family, being an ephemeroid plant.

Types of colchicum

More common in culture than others autumn colchicum (Сolchicum autumnale), in order to have a better idea of ​​it, one must take a closer look at the annual cycle of its development. In early spring, wide, rounded leaves appear first, crowded into a low rosette on a false stem. During this period, the height of the colchicum reaches 30-40 cm, gradually from the internodes close to the base of the plant, corms covered with scales are formed, which will serve for further growth and flowering. Old corms gradually decompose, and the leaves that have fulfilled their purpose also die off. Finally, in autumn, the peak of the development of the colchicum comes - it blooms, after which the seeds and the fruit begin to develop, hidden at the very base of the flower tube. And only next spring, fruits with seeds are shown simultaneously with growing leaves. And only by the beginning of the beginning of summer the seeds ripen.

Colchicum is highly poisonous, not only the corm, but also its aerial parts, therefore, when working with it in the garden, you need to be careful and use gloves. The ingestion of plant sap can cause serious consequences for human health, up to lethal outcome. Even the water in which cut flowers have stood is poisonous.

Colchicum splendid (Colchicum speciosum) grows wild along the edges of forests and in subalpine meadows in Transcaucasia and Middle Asia. Its flowers are much larger than those of the autumnal long - up to 10 cm in height in the form of a wide open glass. In nature, the colors are lilac-pink with a light bottom, and garden forms are white, purple, lavender.
Colchicum Byzantine (Сolchicum byzantinum) looks like b. magnificent - the same large flower and a large corm. Grows in mountain meadows Western Europe and western Turkey.
Colchicum Bornmüller (Colchicum bornmuelleri) - has flowers in shape resembling narrow glasses up to 5 cm high and with pink-lilac coloring of the petals of different tones.

Colchicum Care

Colchicums grow well in full sun. open areas, they can be planted near and ornamental shrubs, the south side is most beneficial for them.

For colchicum, as for all bulbous and bulbous plants, the most suitable is loose garden soil with a sufficient amount nutrients.

Colchicums do not require special care, they only need regular weeding, especially in spring and during flowering. They are transplanted no more than once every 7-10 years, and only if necessary, thin out the plantings, while adding a little fertile land to mulch the plantings.

Colchicum breeding

Dividing the nests of corms and sowing seeds are the main ways of breeding colchicum. Although propagating colchicums with seeds is a long and thankless task, they are sown immediately after harvest and left to germinate for the whole year, seedlings bloom only in the 5-6th year.

Reproduction by corms will give a faster and more reliable result - plants bloom in 3-4 years. They are dug up after the leaves turn yellow and dry towards the end of June, after which the corms are dried and stored until the end of summer in a well-ventilated area. From mid to late August prepared planting material planted in a permanent place, the depth of planting corms depends on their size and is 8-15 cm.

Colchicum blooms in autumn. It is similar to crocus, but colchicum belongs to the Melantaceae family, while crocuses belong to the iris family.

There are types of crocuses that bloom in autumn, and crocuses have a type that blooms in spring. This is a yellow colchicum. Its flowers are not large, but it is very thermophilic, so it is difficult for us to grow it.

And one more similarity in colchicum, both with crocuses, and with tulips and gladioli, is that their corm is replaced annually by a new one.

Colchicums are also called Colchicums. This is an area in Georgia where they are found in nature, and references to them have been preserved since the 14th century, as

"the poisonous crocus of Queen Medea, daughter of the ruler of Colchis."

Indeed, all parts of them are poisonous and are successfully used in medicine. This should be borne in mind if there are small children and pets who like to eat greens.

In nature, colchicum grows in the Caucasus, Asia, India, Afghanistan.

Colchicums begin to bloom from mid-September, depending on the species. Flowering is long - up to three weeks. There are already few other flowers, and in mid-October, when terry forms bloom, there are practically none. And it seems that this is a flower from a science fiction movie, I want to touch it and make sure that it is real.

One bulb has up to 8 flowers, and when children grow around, a whole meadow of flowers is formed. But with us this is a rarity, under the snow they can still spend the winter, but with us - only with shelter.

Of the types of colchicum, most often found:

Colchicum autumn. Its corm is up to 5 cm in diameter, and the flowers are up to 6 cm, pink and purple, the petals are strongly bent horizontally. Up to 8 pieces per socket. Often found with white flowers, there are terry forms. Blooms from mid-September. Meet unusually beautiful flowers with soft pink and dark red coloring.

The largest of the crocuses:

Colchicum fine or magnificent. His bulb is up to 10 cm in diameter, and the flowers are up to 25 cm high. Feature of this species - a white tube of a peduncle. The flower bases are often white-pink or white. This species practically does not form seeds. Happens with white, purple, lilac flowers, up to 14 cm in diameter.

There are terry types. Just from this group, colchicums with huge double flowers are often on sale - Waterlily. They bloom in early October.

Surprisingly, my terry species winter better and grow without transplants for 5-6 years, even when I forget to cover them for the winter.

More can be found:

Colchicum Bornmuller, which grows in Asia Minor. It has pink-violet large flowers up to 12 cm in diameter. You can recognize it by the white stripe in the center of the petal.

Colchicum Byzantine has a corm up to 7 cm irregular shape, while in other species the bulb is rounded. He has purple pink flowers slightly larger than in autumn, open wide and it blooms for a longer time. Up to 12 flowers appear from the corm.

Colchicum shady is best suited for planting in the shade of trees. It differs from other species in early vegetation - in early April. He often has lilac - pink and pale - pink flowers with a diameter of 6 - 7 cm. The tube of the peduncle is purple.

Colchicum planting:

Colchicum soils are loved by the rich good drainage. They grow on both acid and clay soils, but on our loams, the addition of humus and sand is required. If the soil is too heavy, flowering may not be as lush.

You can plant them under trees, but in the sun there will be more flowers. It is better to plant shady colchicum under the trees. Water should not stagnate at the landing site, for this they make drainage, and I plant it on a small hill.

The depth of planting depends on the size of the corm, from 8 to 15 cm. In the upper part of the bulb there is a long brown tube of dried scales; If there is a thick layer of earth above it, the buds may be damaged during growth. It is enough to leave 20 cm between plants.

And we still need to hide them. Better than leaves, mixed with twigs, for air access, and then with a film. I grow terry varieties better, but you just forget to cover them - they immediately disappear.

In spring, a bouquet of wide dark green leaves appears, similar to lily of the valley leaves. Sometimes the leaves seem to be cut halfway, which means they are frozen. It happens that a box with seeds in non-double varieties is visible between the leaves.

If colchicums are grown from seeds, flowering will have to wait up to 7 years. Corms give little children, one, rarely two a year. Therefore, they are quite expensive to sell. Seeds ripen and leaves fall in late June - July.

At this time, colchicum can be seated. It is not recommended to grow them in one place for more than 3 - 4 years, there are not enough nutrients in the soil and the flowers become smaller. It is better to corms immediately, dry a little and plant in a new place, but you can also hold it until the middle - end of August.

In September, they are massively sold in stores, often with buds. When buying, they must be planted immediately, they will bloom well in the same year.

It is also noteworthy that colchicum stand well in a vase, sometimes more than a week.

I am often asked for planting material for colchicum - I do not breed them. It is laborious and long, it is easier for me to buy it and plant it again if it disappears.

It should be bought ONLY EARLY AUTUMN. For example, if I don’t meet in stores in the city, I order at Garden World (https://sadovod.net/category/lukovichnye-rasteniya-osen/), they usually have good planting material.

ADVICE------

In order to make it more convenient to take care of, I plant plants with similar care, but with different flowering periods, in one small flower bed - in late August - early September. For example, my colchicum grows with hyacinths, crocuses, and covering lilies (,