About

This compact perennial reaches a height of 15 cm and produces up to five flowers, each measuring 5 cm in diameter. The blooms are a deep mauve-pink, with the tepals displaying a subtle netted pattern on their exterior.

About the genus

Colchicum are perennial plants that grow from corms, featuring typically coarse, broad, strap-like leaves. These leaves may emerge alongside or following the goblet-shaped blooms.

Growing conditions

Sunlight
Full sun
Soil type
Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moisture
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Aspect
South-facing, East-facing, West-facing
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness
H5

Plant details

Plant type
Bulbs
Habit
Clump forming
Foliage
Deciduous
Height
0.1-0.5 metres
Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height
2-5 years
Suggested uses
Cottage and informal garden, Wildlife gardens
Toxicity
TOXIC if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling TOXIC to pets - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers

Care notes

Cultivation
May be naturalized in turf. Good early spring colour
Pruning
No pruning required
Propagation
Propagate by separating corms when dormant
Pest resistance
May be susceptible to slugs
Disease resistance
May be susceptible to bulb grey moulds