Autumn crocus
Colchicum autumnale · Colchicaceae
📷 Stemonitis · Public domain
⚠️ Toutes les parties (bulbes surtout) contiennent la colchicine; ingestion mortelle chez chiens/chats, danger grave chez humains.
The gardener's calendar
Autumn crocus is in full bloom: enjoy it, watch watering in hot weather and let spent flowers feed pollinators before pruning.
ID card
- Family
- Colchicaceae
- Plant type
- Perennial bulb
- Flowering
- September to October
- Mature height
- Approximately 40 cm
- Foliage
- Deciduous (disappears in summer)
- Hardiness
- Very hardy (down to -15 °C)
- Origin
- Europe and Asia Minor
- Toxicity
- Toxic to domestic animals
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability high.
Expert tips
The key tip
Plant corms in August/September in well-drained soil, full sun. No maintenance after establishment, except let the foliage die back naturally after flowering.
The common mistake
Watering regularly after autumn flowering—the corm will rot in winter moisture.
The pro's trick
Plant corms densely (10-15 cm apart): they'll form visibly attractive clumps that flower much more generously than isolated plants.
Seasonal watch
September: as the first flowers appear, deer and rabbits love to browse—protect with a light mesh or repellent if pressure is high.
Care
Exposure
Autumn crocus thrives in full sun or partial shade. Place it in an open location where it receives at least a few hours of direct sunlight daily. A south or west-facing exposure is ideal to encourage generous flowering.
Watering
Water regularly during the spring and autumn growing periods, keeping the soil moist but not waterlogged. In summer, when the foliage disappears, significantly reduce watering. Check that soil drainage is excellent to prevent bulb rot.
Soil and planting
Choose well-drained, light and slightly rich soil. Plant the bulbs in August-September, at a depth of about 10 to 15 cm. Adding sand or gravel at planting time improves drainage, especially in clay soil.
Fertilizer
Apply fertilizer for autumn-flowering bulbs in late summer, before flowers emerge. Well-decomposed compost at planting time is often sufficient. Avoid excess nitrogen, which would promote foliage at the expense of flowers.
Maintenance and cleanup
Remove spent flowers to prevent unnecessary seed formation. Let the leaves yellow naturally in spring before removing them completely. No specific pruning is needed; the plant follows its natural cycle.
Pests and diseases
Autumn crocus is generally disease-resistant. Watch for slugs and snails, particularly in spring. Excess moisture in winter can promote bulb rot: ensure excellent drainage.
Pests and diseases
Autumn crocus is generally disease-resistant. Watch for slugs and snails, particularly in spring. Excess moisture in winter can promote bulb rot: ensure excellent drainage.
Did you know?
Autumn crocus has been known since antiquity for its colchicine, a toxic alkaloid used in medicine to treat gout. This substance is so powerful that it was long considered a deadly poison, yet in small doses it has recognized therapeutic properties. Its autumn flowering without leaves earned it the poetic nickname of « September mystery » or « wild September tulip » in some regions.
Where to buy it
Plant the bulbs in autumn for spring flowering. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: from September to November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
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- Sessileleaf bellwortUvularia sessilifolia
- Wurmbea dioicaWurmbea dioica
- Disporum smilacinumDisporum smilacinum
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.