more autumn crocus

The autumn crocus season continues. Most of my Colchicum are now faded but my new Colchicum 'Waterlily' is just blooming...I love this one! What a display!

And here is my small clump of Crocus kotchyanus...last year just 3 flowers so it is slowly increasing.

I just gotta get some autumn crocus! These are lovely Toddy.

Tam

Colchicum is absolutely on my list.

Very nice Todd, the Waterlily is divine! :0)

You take really great pics Todd--even if I can't grow the plant. =)

Todd -- do your kotchyanus always bloom later than the other species? There are still no sign of the ones I planted last year and I'm wondering whether to continue with my hopes or just settle in to wait til next year.

I planted my Kochyanus 2 years ago in the fall, no blooms so I thought maybe I planted too late in the season. In spring, I saw foliage as expected, but last fall, again, no blooms. Foliage again this spring, but so far this fall, again, no blooms... What the heck is up with them? I have a clump of saffron crocus in a similar location nearby, and it blooms just fine. Any ideas? Are kochy's just finnicky?

I got my kotchyanus last year (August) as 3 corms and they produced 3 flowers. This year a total of 7 flowers so I guess they are on their way. I can't say I've found them to be fussy. As long as you are getting leaves, there is hope. Give them a high phophorus fertilizer in the spring to help bulk up the bulbs.

Here are some more autumn crocus. This is Crocus serotinus. It is too tender to overwinter outside so I keep it in a frost-free cold greenhouse kept at 5 C (40 F) in winter.

and Crocus goulimyi. This one could probably survive zone 6 but until I build up the numbers, I'll keep this one in the cold greenhouse as well.

Thanks for the advice Todd, I'll be sure to toss them some food this spring.

And thatnk for sharing all those wonderful blooms with us!!

I love these autumn crocuses as they are so valuable at this time of year when not much else is in bloom. This is my Colchicum Waterlily - I have had about 5 flowers this year.

This is crocus pulchellus

Crocus goulimyi

Another colchicum but I'm not sure of the name

Crocus banaticus - a lovely shape I think

And the pot of pulchellus not yet planted out

Great collection Galanthophile. The banaticus is quite unusual but alas not hardy in my area. BTW, the crocus in your pot are not pulchellus...they are speciosus, so it looks like you have yet another species! Mine are just starting now.

Very preeettttty Galanthophile. Thanks for sharing ! ;0)

Here's my latest autumn crocus to bloom...this is C. tournefortii. Last year it didn't bloom until early December...this year the first bloom was on Oct. 24.

I planted my first three varieties of Colchicum bulbs earlier this year - plantiing them firstly in the glasshouse.
They were just showing their first flowers and I decided that they would look lovely in the garden
Took great care in planting them, they were much admired that evening.
By the next morning they were gone....munched by slugs!
As you may have guessed - I'm the novices novice! and as I live in rainy old Ireland I think I should start reading up a little!

PS the pictures are fab!

I'm going to try these guys since some of the species are supposed to be OK in zones 8. I can make many zone 8 bulbs do for me. One question...does this particular family need to be dry during dormancy or can they handle wet dormancy? That determines how I need to deal with them--ground or container culture wise. All of your pics are great and have convinced me to at least try a few. =)
Debbie

The colchicums don't mind wetter dormancy but most autumn crocus prefer dry dormancy...Crocus speciosus, kotchyanus, pulchellus and nudiflorus are noteable exceptions in that they can tolerate a damper dormancy, but tournefortii, ochroleucus (about the flower), goulimyi and serotinus prefer dry dormancy.

Thank you Todd--just the info I needed to decide which to try.

Yet another species opened today. This one is blooming for the first time after 2 years. Its called Crocus ochroleucus.

Nov. 3 and yet another crocus has opened. I expect this one to be the last for the fall season. This one is Crocus longiflorus.