In contrast to regular crocuses, autumn crocuses bloom on the finish of the rising season. Their blossoms mark the top of summer season, because the seasons shift from sunny and heat to chill and breezy. You’ll discover the bare, pink flowers rising from the bottom with none leaves.
Although they’ve the phrase crocus of their identify, these perennials aren’t true crocuses. They resemble the spring-blooming bulbs. Autumn crocus refers to vegetation of the species Colchicum autumnale, whereas crocuses are within the genus Crocus.
A special species, the favored saffron crocus (Crocus sativus), additionally blooms within the fall across the similar time as autumn crocus. This species is much less hardy, and it produces an edible spice to be used in cooking. Don’t confuse the 2, as autumn crocuses are poisonous whereas saffron ones produce edible stigmas.
Autumn Crocus Overview
What Is It?
The autumn crocus is a corm-forming perennial. A corm is an enlarged stem, whereas a bulb consists of swollen leaf tissues. From the corms, inexperienced leaves sprout in spring and pink blooms emerge from late summer season by early fall.
Native Space
These crocuses originate from Europe, the place they develop wild in lots of southern international locations. They like cool winter temperatures and heat rising seasons with loads of sunshine. These days, they’re naturalized in lots of elements of the U.S. in states like Oregon, North Carolina, and Vermont.
In backyard tradition, autumn crocus cultivars thrive in USDA hardiness zones 5 by 9. They could survive the winter in zone 4 if they’ve additional safety from harsh frosts.
Traits
These corm-forming perennials are distinctive. Most bulbs sprout leaves, then flowers, and so they have a tendency to take action in spring or summer season. Autumn crocus grows leaves in spring, and so they die in summer season.
Then, within the fall, many pink-purple flower buds emerge from underground. They develop with out leaves, therefore the bulbs’ different well-known identify, “bare women.” Additionally they go by the names fall crocus, meadow saffron, and surprise bulb.
After the blooms fade, they die again, and the corm overwinters beneath the soil. New leaves emerge in spring, and the cycle repeats itself.
You’ll be able to inform fall crocuses aside from saffron ones by their stamens, or male reproductive elements with pollen. True crocus flowers have three stamens, whereas vegetation within the genus Colchicum have six stamens in every of their blooms.
Planting
These bulbs profit from a summer season planting. It’s too late to plant them as soon as they’re blooming. If you happen to discover they’re fairly this 12 months and also you need them for subsequent season, make an observation to plant them subsequent summer season.
Discover corms for planting at backyard facilities, plant nurseries, and specialty on-line retailers. Or, strive rising them from seeds! They take significantly longer to mature, however the problem of rising them is effectively well worth the rewards.
Rising from Seed
Develop these false crocuses from seeds for quite a lot of causes. Maybe you’d like to find a brand new selection, otherwise you’re in search of distinctive bloom colours. Seed-started vegetation are more likely to differ from their mother and father, and you might bump into a brand new, distinctive cultivar whereas cultivating them.
Begin by discovering seeds. Gather them from well-performing vegetation within the panorama in late autumn, or buy them from a retailer. Seek for seeds of Colchicum autumnale to make sure you purchase the suitable ones.
Sow the seeds in pots with potting soil, and canopy them calmly with a skinny layer of the soil. Hold the dust moist till the seedlings sprout, and provides them shiny gentle whereas they mature. They want a 12 months or two open air earlier than they’ll sprout, and the seedlings must develop for 4 to 5 years earlier than they’re able to flower.
Transplanting
For blooms in fall, you’ll must plant autumn crocus corms by mid to late summer season. It’s too late to plant as soon as the blooms seem. You’ll have to attend till they fade earlier than planting the corms.
Plant the bulb-like corms in loamy, well-drained soil. Most backyard soils work effectively, and you might amend them with compost to assist them get higher over time. Begin by digging holes three to 6 inches deep, and house them half a foot aside.
Place the corms proper facet up within the holes, then cowl them with the soil you dug out earlier. Water the positioning, and preserve it moist whereas the crocuses set up themselves. Place a contemporary, two to three-inch-thick layer of compost on high of the dust. It’ll feed and insulate the vegetation whereas they develop underground.
Tips on how to Develop
These bulbs are simple to develop, and so they’ll naturalize in gardens the place they’re hardy. You’ll see beautiful clumps of cute flowers that pop up every autumn. The clumps will develop wider annually, and you may divide them to propagate the crocuses additional.
Mild
These perennials want full solar to partial shade whereas they develop. They mix in effectively beneath bigger bushes and shrubs, although they do their finest in full solar with six or extra hours of direct daylight.
Daylight is particularly vital throughout the vegetation’ leafy part, once they develop leaves in spring earlier than the summer season dormancy. They tolerate shade throughout the flowering part, from late summer season by fall.
Water
Common water is finest throughout the two separate rising seasons. The corms want loads of moisture whereas they sprout leaves and blooms. They’re drought-tolerant throughout the summer season months when temperatures are heat.
Keep away from overwatering, particularly throughout winter and summer season. Let the soil dry on the floor earlier than watering once more. Container specimens want extra water, as their pots dry extra rapidly than the bottom.
Soil
Develop autumn crocus in well-drained soil. The corms dislike soggy conditions, and so they fare finest in loamy, free-draining earth.
If the positioning is clay-dense or too sandy, amend it with compost. The nutrient-rich soil modification will decay over time and increase the dust’s high quality. No matter whether or not the positioning has an excessive amount of clay or sand, compost is the answer for creating humus-rich loam.
Fertilizing
These bulbs respect wealthy soils, and so they’ll profit from occasional fertilization throughout the rising season. Feed them as soon as as they develop new leaves in spring, and once more in autumn when the blooms seem.
Use an natural fertilizer to keep away from harming soil microbes, and dilute it with water to assist it soak into the bottom. A well-balanced fertilizer with equal elements nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium is finest.
Propagation
Propagate these perennials with division, or save their seeds to sow seedlings. Division is the standard route that gardeners use, because it’s simpler and faster working than beginning vegetation from seeds.
Division
Divide wholesome clumps each different 12 months to multiply your planting inventory. The corms kind mini-corms beneath the soil that swell and enlarge into mature ones. Harvest these, take them elsewhere, and plant them once more to unfold them all through the backyard.
It’s finest to divide from mid to late summer season when the corms are dormant. If you recognize you need to divide this 12 months, take note of the vegetation once they’re of their leafy kind in spring. Place a flag within the heart of every clump. Then, in summer season, you’ll know precisely the place to dig.
Dig a foot deep underground, a number of inches outdoors of the clumps. Dig beneath them, then raise them out of the bottom. They need to raise simply whereas they’re dormant and comparatively rootless. Place them in a cool, darkish, and dry location till you’re able to plant them. Or, plant them now!
Seed Saving
Although rising autumn crocus from seeds takes a very long time, it’s a good way to uncover new varieties or make new hybrids. Merely place the pollen from one selection’s flowers into these of one other, and accumulate the ensuing seeds in late winter or spring.
The seeds kind in pods close to the bottom. Choose the pods once they’re brown however earlier than they open totally to make sure they don’t fall on the bottom. Let the seeds dry, then place them in containers to retailer long-term. Hold the containers in a cool, darkish place like a pantry or fridge.
Fashionable Varieties
There are dozens of species and hybrids obtainable for buy. These are three of the most well-liked, although there are a lot of choices to select from. Go for a traditional autumn crocus right here, or preserve looking out to discover a funky new cultivar.
Pleniflorum
‘Pleniflorum’ fills the house backyard with lush, purple blooms. The flowers are double flowers, that means they’ve a number of rows of petals as an alternative of a single one.
Just like the species, ‘Pleniflorum’ multiplies over time to make small clumps. Propagate them in summer season and plant them in your meadows, lawns, and beds.
Waterlily
‘Waterlily’ blooms resemble waterlilies as a result of they’re lilac-purple and stuffed with petals. Like ‘Pleniflorum,’ the flowers are double-petalled with many rows. They’re gorgeous alongside single-petal varieties!
This cultivar’s heavy blooms might have assist to remain upright. Allow them to develop by a metallic flower assist, or prop them up with sticks and stones.
‘Waterlily’ is a sterile hybrid, that means it received’t develop seeds. Propagate it by dividing the corms in summer season.
The Big
‘The Big’ is so aptly named for its tall-reaching blooms. They could prolong to a foot tall! The petals are purple on the surface and white on the internal parts.
As with ‘Waterlily’ blooms, ‘The Big’ flowers might have assist to remain standing. Assist them with metallic grates or robust helps.
Widespread Issues
Comparatively problem-free, these bulbs are favorites for his or her low-maintenance nature. They could often have slugs, snails, or fungal infections. Look ahead to these pests when the climate is moist and funky in fall and spring.
Pests
Slugs and snails are voracious eaters of foliage. They assault leaves, stems, buds, and something inexperienced! They’ll even eat the flowers. Although they’re not widespread pests, they often goal autumn crocus populations.
Monitor for slugs each day once they’re widespread. They thrive beneath the cool of fall and spring. Entice them with beer or dough traps, or place boards all through the backyard and uncover them within the morning.
Illnesses
Fungal smut could infect the leaves, although it’s extremely uncommon. It’s a fungal illness that targets contemporary leaves. It varieties a black coating with white patches.
Smut stays within the soil for lengthy durations of time. As a substitute of making an attempt to avoid wasting the unique vegetation, discard them and plant a distinct species within the gap. Plant autumn crocus species elsewhere to starve the fungus of its hosts.
Often Requested Questions
Sure, they’re. They’re toxic to pets and people. Don’t plant them close to saffron crocuses to keep away from complicated the 2.
They have an inclination to flower in autumn, as their identify suggests. They’re blooming in my a part of the Pacific Northwest as I write this in September. They could flower a bit earlier or later, relying on the place you backyard.
Plant them in summer season, after the leaves are totally dormant. The foliage shall be brown and dry, or fully withered away.