Earliest Colchicums Ever

By Kathy Purdy August 24, 2010 – Posted in: Colchicums
10 comments

colchicums emerging

I've never seen colchicums bloom this early

After two days of much-needed rain, I decided to walk around the garden to see what I could see. I wasn’t really expecting to see colchicums blooming, because they usually start in September. Perhaps the extended hot and dry spell, followed by the cool, rainy weather encouraged them to break dormancy early. At any rate, it was a pleasant surprise. These ones should be the variety ‘Zephyr’.

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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.

If winter is slumber and spring is birth, and summer is life, then autumn rounds out to be reflection. It’s a time of year when the leaves are down and the harvest is in and the perennials are gone. Mother Earth just closed up the drapes on another year and it’s time to reflect on what’s come before.

~Mitchell Burgess in Northern Exposure

Comments on this entry are closed.

Sue August 25, 2010, 11:22 am

Beautiful. I checked and they are even good in my zone. Where would be the best place to order them from and is one species better than another? Thanks.

Kathy Purdy August 25, 2010, 3:55 pm

I bought mine from Odyssey Bulbs, but ‘Zephyr’ is sold out. They do have other colchicums available still. Odyssey Bulbs has the largest selection, but many other bulb companies sell at least a few kinds.

Cindy, MCOK August 24, 2010, 10:56 pm

Interesting … one of my Oxblood Lilies bloomed last week, which is about 3 weeks earlier than expected. By the way, it’s so funny to me to see Violas blooming in August!

Kathy Purdy August 24, 2010, 11:07 pm

The Johnny-jump-ups get a bit scraggly by August, but with this rain we are heading into fall and they are getting a new lease on life.

Dee @ Red Dirt Ramblings August 24, 2010, 9:34 pm

Beautiful photo. Congrats on them starting early.

Craig @ Ellis Hollow August 24, 2010, 8:12 pm

Guess I’ll head out tomorrow and start pulling back all the foliage of other plants that are probably snuffing out mine as I type.

Frances August 24, 2010, 7:08 pm

Oh, that does seem early. I would call that stage close enough to be blooming! We have C. speciousus that will not show until October.

Gail August 24, 2010, 4:36 pm

I have great hopes to see them soon~ I love these beauties! gail

Mr. McGregor's Daughter August 24, 2010, 3:57 pm

My Colchicum ‘The Giant’ have sprouted, but they aren’t blooming yet. I haven’t checked to see if that’s early, but I suspect not. Yours blooming early is interesting.

Kathy Purdy August 24, 2010, 4:18 pm

Well, do you call the colchicums above sprouted or blooming? They are showing color but they’re not open yet.

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