And both treacherous! Can't be? The truth is merciless: colchicums are very poisonous being really beautiful. The combination does not seem to be uncommon, though. Fortunately, we do not have to eat the colchicum tubers nor colchicum leaves. And the sight of rosy-lavender colchicum flowers is not venomous but only a little addictive. You can not stop admiring them.
Colchicums are surprise plants. Not because of the chemical content of their tubers but because of the sudden way the appear in the garden, literally out of nowhere. It is a good idea to have a lot of "nowhere" locations in the garden so that we can enjoy one of the last autumn flowers before long and dark winter months.
Colchicums are surprise plants. Not because of the chemical content of their tubers but because of the sudden way the appear in the garden, literally out of nowhere. It is a good idea to have a lot of "nowhere" locations in the garden so that we can enjoy one of the last autumn flowers before long and dark winter months.
Colchicums (Colchicum) are tuberous plants that have a very unusual life cycle. In the fall the tubers produce a cluster of flowers. First they appear as white fangs rising from the earth. Within a few days they open and add great lavender and pink shades to the garden flowery display. Do not expect any leaves, this time they are going to be absent. The next spring, however, they are eager to emerge from the earth along with the seed pods. They will wither before the summer starts. Having that in mind, we should carefully plant the tubers in places that will not leave empty patches for the summer period when the leaves are gone. Or, we can always mask the spots with some annuals, remembering that they contain a hidden treasure: tubers sending up a bundle of beautiful flowers when the time comes. And it is always a surprise.
Apart from the typical lilac-pink colchicums, there are also white cultivars. And colchicums with double flowers, which do not look like colchicums, more like waterlilies. No matter the colour or number of petals, all cultivars require full sun or light shade in order to supply abundant flowering. The tubers do not like to be disturbed and if left forgotten, they will produce bigger clusters with every year. The flowers look great in a vase but be cautious decorating dinner tables with them. You never know!
Apart from the typical lilac-pink colchicums, there are also white cultivars. And colchicums with double flowers, which do not look like colchicums, more like waterlilies. No matter the colour or number of petals, all cultivars require full sun or light shade in order to supply abundant flowering. The tubers do not like to be disturbed and if left forgotten, they will produce bigger clusters with every year. The flowers look great in a vase but be cautious decorating dinner tables with them. You never know!
Jarek
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