Crocus: Colchicum agrippinum

description for "Crocus: Colchicum agrippinum"

Colchicum agrippinum is one of the most distinctive of the Colchicum species, C. agrippinum belongs to the tessellated or checkered group. The pale lilac blooms have pointed petals that are delicately checked and veined with darker lilac-purple. Low growing and weather resistant producing numerous flowers from each corm. Colchicum, also known as autumn-crocus, is a unique flower bulb genus that blooms while dormant. If you're tardy to plant you may find your corms blooming in the wheelbarrow. The corms produce flowers only weeks after planting in the fall. Ants relish the seed coating of autumn-crocus (and Puschkinia), thereby spreading intact embryos to naturalize areas with fall blooms. -- edited by dtd pbcouchman

History:

Colchicum agrippinum is possibly a natural hybrid between C. autumnale and C. variegatum, and is native to Greece and southwestern Turkey.