Colchicum sibthorpii (also called Colchicum bivonae, Colchicum bowlesianum and autumn crocus)
Colchicum
sibthorpii
Half to fully hardy, autumn flowering corm grown for chequered, rosy-pink, funnel-shaped flowers that bloom around September/October. The corm flowers in autumn and is followed by leaves in spring.
Originating in southern Europe, from Corsica and Sardinia to western Turkey.
This Colchicum has several alternate names, which does confuse things, but since the RHS call it C. sibthorpii, I shall stick with that. Another point on naming is the confusion caused by it also being know as the 'autumn crocus'. Colchicums are from the plant family Liliaceae, meaning lily family, while crocuses come from the Iridaceae family, meaning iris family.
Flowers in autumn.
Habit - clump forming, upright. H: 10-15cm. S: 15-20cm
Stem - almost stemless.
Leaves - strap-shaped, green, appearing after the flowers have bloomed.
Flowers - each corm produces up to six funnel-shaped flowers, up to 6cm long. Flowers are pink, marked with darker chequered patterning.
Sheltered and sunny.
Any reasonably fertile, well-drained soil.
May need protection from hard frosts.
Little needed - lift and divide clumps after flowering has finished.
Susceptible to slug and snail damage.
By fresh seed in autumn - seed may take up to 18 months to germinate and a further four years for the first flowers to appear. May cross with Colchicum speciosum. Plant clumps can also be divided.