Scientific name: Colchicum autumnale
Synonym: Colchicum autumnale var. minor hort. , Colchicum autumnale ‘Wild Form’ , Colchicum haynaldii , Colchicum pannonicum
Family: COLCHICACEAE
Common names: “Naked ladies” “Autumn-flowering crocus” “meadow saffron”
Plant Type: Cormous herbaceous perennial
Conditions:
Zone: 4-9
Light: Full sun best, can take part shade but with fewer flowers
Exposure: Sheltered from overhead watering and strong winds
Soil: Fertile humus rich
Moisture: Well drained – summer drought, intolerant of too much wet
Aesthetic:
Plant Size: 5″-12″ H & W
Leaf and Stem shape: Erect, strap-shaped leaves
Flower: 6 crocus-like lavender-pink flowers in autumn
Maintenance: Best time to divide is in spring, usually every 6 years or if there are fewer flowers than usual, plant at 3.5-4″ depth and 6-8″ apart
Landscape use: Flower borders, wildflower meadow,
Propagate: By seed and division
Pests & Disease: Can be damaged by slugs
*Deer resistant, but squirrels might eat them
Comments: They multiply and spread, can naturalize in a lawn if allowed to, all parts toxic
Cultivars: ~AGM winner: C. a. ‘Nancy Lindsay’
Vancouver Island Grows 