These colchicums were still blooming Friday afternoon.
s those of you who
follow me or the
Cold Climate Gardening page on Facebook know, I gave a talk on colchicums yeseterday for the Adirondack Chapter of the North American Rock Garden Society, which meets in Ithaca–not the Adirondacks.
The day before my talk, I decided to pick any fresh-looking colchicums and take them to the talk. To my surprise I found five different varieties in good shape. Of course, it was the very last of the byzantinums, just one single blossom that I decided to pick. And since this was my first year with ‘Spartacus’, I don’t know if he will bloom so late next year. The unknown colchicum was left behind, I suspect, when I moved a clump, and it was buried deep and so bloomed late. But ‘Waterlily’ and C. autumnale ‘Alboplenum’ are usually the last to be blooming. (You can click on the photo to enlarge it for a better look.)
The talk was very well-received and I hope to give it again. If your upstate NY garden group is looking for speakers, have them contact me through GreatGardenSpeakers.com.
Tagged as:
colchicum,
Colchicum patrol,
Colchicums
About the Author
Kathy Purdy is a colchicum evangelist, converting unsuspecting gardeners into colchicophiles. She gardens in rural upstate NY, which used to be USDA Hardiness Zone 4 but is now Zone 5. Kathy’s been writing since 4th grade, gardening since high school, and blogging since 2002. Find her on Instagram as kopurdy.
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
do you have any suggestions on placing colchicums in the garden? With other bulbs, I tend to plant them near the crown of a larger perennial, or maybe under a shrub. That way I enjoy the blooms, and the larger plant grows up to hide the dying foliage later in the spring. But that wont work with colchicum, because the larger plant would hide the blossoms. How do you deal with the dying foliage while still allowing a good view of the flowers?
That is a good question, one that I address in the talk I give on colchicums. I grow them in ground covers such as ajuga, creeping phlox, etc. The ground covers don’t hide the yellow foliage very well, but do complement the flowers. I grow them around hostas and daylilies, which do hide the dying colchicum foliage well, but need some trimming to show the colchicum flowers at their best. Daylily foliage often looks ratty by September, anyway. With hostas, I judiciously remove a leaf or two. It helps to plant the colchicums near the very edge of the hosta clump. Look around your garden for any plant that blooms earlier in the season and could then have its bloom stalks–or all its foliage–cut down. I have planted them behind Dark Towers penstemon and cut down the flower stalks. You could try planting amongst hardy geraniums or columbines, cut down the plants after bloom for a flush of new foliage to accompany the colchicum flowers.
Wow, thanks for your helpful (lots of good details) and prompt reply. I have just a few colchicums, but am looking to expand my collection.
I just found your site, and am looking forward to checking it out more thoroughly
You’re welcome! You’ll probably want to go through the entire Colchicum category, and then browse the rest of the archives.
I love looking through gardening and food blogs. My friend just told me about yours and also “Cooking With Mr. C.” on Facebook. I just “Liked” his page and came to see your site. I’m glad when people share blogs with each other. Denise
Having spent time with you, I know you are a good teacher. You are always full of inspiration and education. Your audience was very lucky.
I hope one day to hear you speak Kathy
No, never have been to the “deep South” of central Connecticut
You you ever venture to the “deep South” of central Connecticut?