Cold Climate Gardening

Here is another one where I am not sure I have a correctly identified plant, mostly, I suppose, because it is surely not the biggest colchicum on the block. On the other hand, I think Bowles’ description fits: “In C. giganteum the segments open out more widely and remain expanded at an angle of forty-five degrees, almost flat on the upper surface but with a tendency to be twisted towards the apex, and they resemble a Lily or Hippeastrum rather than a Tulip.” It does look rather lily-ish, doesn’t it? Bowles goes on to give it this recommendation: “It is a very distinct and beautiful plant, a strong grower, increasing well and flowering freely rather later than C. speciosum, which makes it valuable for lengthening the season of large-flowered colchicums.” In my garden this plant blooms concurrently with C. speciosum. Bryan describes it as ten to twelve inches tall. I didn’t think to measure them, but I think six to eight inches tall would be closer to the height mine had. Photo taken September 23.

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