PlantFiles: False Autumn Crocus, Showy Colchicum, Naked Ladies, Meadow Saffron
Colchicum autumnale

I dug up some of these bulbs from a friends yard after they had finished blooming in September (California). I planted them in my yard and they bloomed the first year after planting. They have not bloomed since!! I have some bulbs in the ground and others in a large pot with other plants...none of the them have bloomed in years. The leaves are lush & green then when they die off the blooms should appear. I do nothing for them so I wonder what I need to do to get them to bloom. I see them in the wild in Fallbrook, Ca. where no one has attended to them..so what gives with them not blooming for me? If anyone can offer up a solution, it would be appreciated.

A great filler plant in the spring ... nothing like glossy green leaves to make you want to get out and get ready for the coming show of spring flowers. Then after the dry summer, when not much else around here is in bloom, they start poking out of the ground. They are a welcome site this time of year when all the potted plants are being stored away for protection.

The pure wild species is a bit shapeless, with its paddled shaped petals which open wide leaving gaps between them, but the two white varieties (probably hybrids) are much better. Look good en masse.

This plant occurs wild in Britain, the only colchicum to do so.

I would hesitate to ingest any part of any colchicum, they contain the poisonous alkaloid colchicine, which does have some medical uses - not for the amateur herbalist though. I have had some reaction in my hands by just handling the corms at replanting time, so wear gloves now when I am doing this. Although I do handle several hundred most autumns and am probably more exposed than most!

I agree, they do of course have leaves in the spring,quite large actually (I'll take a pic in the spring).Also they can be used as a diuretic,but a word to the wise, they are also highly toxic and there can be serious consiquences to an overdose!!!

Excuse me, but this plant does have leaves during springtime(vegetative period), and is flowering after summer rest with, indeed only the flowers. In Dutch we name it "herfst stijlloze" what means wearing flower in fall without leaves.
This bulbs are used as medcines for those who have to much ureum and or ureum acid in the blood. It provocs diaree.
Albert

These bulbs produce ONLY flowers, which arise in little clusters directly from the ground, with no foliage supporting them. Allow for abundant watering while active.