Colchicums: Planting and Blooming

By Kathy Purdy September 17, 2002 – Posted in: Colchicums

Planted Colchicum atropurpureum in the ell of the house this past Saturday, and I see something, either cat or renegade chicken, has dug up the tag. {Sigh} This is especially a problem as I’ve planted many different varieties in the spot. It’s sort of a nursery bed for my pet colchicums, as I think it is particularly warm and sheltered. The C. ‘Autumn Herald’ that I planted last week in this same spot has broken the surface; that was good to see. Also planted C. speciosum ‘Album’ on the shady side of the house, where it can bloom through some nice dark ajuga leaves. All the C. byzantinum (or what I think is byzantinum) that came with the house and I’ve relocated are blooming in full force, and C. ‘Violet Queen’ has also started, though its blooms don’t look violet to me.

Tagged as: Acquisitions, colchicum, Colchicums, ell, plant_labels, plant_tags

About the Author

Kathy Purdy is a colchicum evangelist, converting unsuspecting gardeners into colchicophiles. She would be delighted to speak to your group about colchicums or other gardening topics. Kathy’s been writing since 4th grade, gardening since high school, and blogging since 2002.

Not Enough Rain

Lilac Books

Now, the digging and dividing of perennials, the general autumn cleanup and the planting of spring bulbs are all an act of faith. One carries on before the altar of delayed gratification, until the ground freezes and you can’t do any more other than refill the bird feeder and gaze through the window, waiting for the snow. . . . Meanwhile, it helps to think of yourself as a pear tree or a tulip. You will blossom spectacularly in the spring, but only after the required period of chilling.

~Adrian Higgins in The Washington Post, November 6, 2013

Comments on this entry are closed.