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Information and photo supplied by:
Vance Hooper
http://www.vanplant.co.nz
Source:
These nurseries are mail order suppliers -
- Joy Plants: Ph 09 2389129 or fax 09 2389177 (C.speciosum and C.speciosum Alba).
- Southwell Plants: Fax 03 4182475 (C. speciosum Alba and C. speciosum 'Atrorubens')
- Parva Plants list Colchicum speciosum and speciosum alba.
email: parva@wave.co.nz
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Botanical name: Colchicum autumnale, C. speciosum
Common name: Autumn Crocus.
Comments/uses:
C. autumnale is the commonest species grown in old established gardens, but nurseries list forms of C. speciosum, which is a very similar species but larger growing. They are the first harbingers of autumn and seem to be activated by the cooler evenings of February, though this year we only had a few cool nights early in the month, but this still seemed to be enough to wake them up. They flower without any foliage at all and once established put on quite a show. The foliage develops later in the autumn once flowering has ceased, and can take up quite a bit of space - as much as the average hosta. They brighten up sunny or shady areas, and can tolerate the heavy shade of deciduous trees since the foliage develops later. They are quite happy in a wide range of soils as long as they dont get waterlogged, and will appreciate the addition of a compost mulch from time to time.
Propagation:
Grown by natural division, which is usually x2 under average garden conditions.They are best lifted and replanted as soon as the foliage dies down in spring. If two different clones are grown, seed may be possible, but this will probably require special treatment such as a warm stratification (warm storage to simulate summer) followed by autumn sowing.
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