WSU Clark County Extension
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Autumn Crocus

Scientific name: Colchicum autumnale
Taxonomy
Family:Liliaceae
Type:Bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes
Native:NO
Plant Requirements
Zone:4 to 8
Plant Characteristics
Height:1 ft
Width:0 ft
Bloom:Fall flowers
Bloom Time:September
Bloom Color:Lavender
Additional Characteristics
Trees


Fruit

Leaves


Bark
Wildlife value

Poisonous
Description With its large lavender flowers that resemble a champagne glass, Autumn Crocus is a welcome addition to a fall garden.

  Morphology:
Autumn Crocus, also referred to as meadow saffron, is a fall blooming bulb derived from a corm. It bears long tubular 6-part purple-pink to white vase shaped flowers in September. Flowers are often 2” long.

A week after the flowers emerge the corm sends up 5-8 narrow fleshy leaves which grow during the fall.

The underground corm which gives rise to the above ground flowers and leaves is 1”-2” in diameter. A new corm develops on top of the older corm each year.

  Adaptation:
Autumn crocus grows in a wide array of sites, from full sun to partial shade.

  Pests:
None reported.

All parts of the Autumn Crocus plant are highly poisonous as it contains the alkaloid colchicine. Poisoning from this plant resembles arsenic poisoning; the symptoms (which occur 2 to 5 hours after the plant has been eaten) include burning in the mouth and throat, diarrhea, stomach pain, vomiting, and kidney failure.

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For assistance, contact Dr. Charles Brun (brunc@wsu.edu), (360) 397-6060 7713
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