About Colchicum speciosum Steven
Colchicum speciosum Steven is a species of flowering plant in the Colchicaceae family, native to mountainous regions of northern Turkey, the Caucasus, and northern Iran. This herbaceous perennial grows from corms, reaching 18 cm (7 in) tall and 10 cm (4 in) wide at maturity. It blooms in autumn, producing reddish-violet flowers on stems that can grow up to 30 centimetres (12 in) tall, with no leaves present when flowering. Its strap-shaped leaves emerge in spring, then turn yellow, wither, and die back over the course of summer. The flowers of this species closely resemble the flowers of crocus, a well-known spring-flowering bulb, so this species and other Colchicum species share the common name autumn crocus. Despite this similarity, the two genera belong to separate plant families. There is also an autumn-flowering true crocus species, Crocus sativus, which is the source of the spice saffron. Unlike Crocus sativus, all parts of Colchicum speciosum are toxic if eaten. In cultivation, Colchicum speciosum is a vigorous grower that grows well in most climates when planted in full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. It is valued in garden settings for its late blooming period, which extends from the end of summer into autumn. Notable cultivars include the white-flowered 'Album' and the amethyst-purple-flowered ‘Atrorubens’, both of which have earned the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit, a status confirmed in 2017.
