Beginner
skill rating
Online Garden Tools
Useful videos
Colchicum autumnale (Meadow saffron)
Comment on a listing
Plant supplier links
- Login to upload a photo
1 hour care
per year
per year
0.15m
Max height
Max height
0.1m
Max spread
Max spread
2-5 years
To maturity
To maturity
Low
Toxicity
Toxicity
Plant details
Botanical name
Colchicum autumnale
Other names
Meadow saffron, Purple crocus, Upstart, Meadow crocus, Michaelmas crocus, Naked boys, Naked ladies, Autumn crocus, Fog crocus, Colchicum pannonicum
Genus
Colchicum Colchicum
Species
C. autumnale - C. autumnale is compact, clump-forming, cormous perennial with erect, strap-shaped, mid-green leaves and goblet-shaped, lavender-pink flowers blooming as or before the leaves emerge in autumn.
Colchicum autumnale is: Deciduous
Habit
Clump-forming
Toxicity
All parts are highly toxic if eaten.
Flower
Pink in Autumn
Foliage
Green, Grey-green in Spring
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Slugs Slugs
General care
Pruning
No pruning needed.
Propagation methods
Seed
Sign up for your FREE ACCOUNT today or login to receive detailed monthly care instructions
Where to grow
Colchicum autumnale (Meadow saffron) will reach a height of 0.15m and a spread of 0.1m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Beds and borders, Containers, Cottage/Informal, Gravel, Meadow, Naturalised in turf, Rock, Underplanting, Wildflower
Cultivation
Plant in moist but well-drained, deep, humus-rich, fertile soil in full sun. Will not tolerate waterlogged conditions.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
North, South, East, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
Companion plants
Botanical name
Colchicum autumnale
Other names
Meadow saffron, Purple crocus, Upstart, Meadow crocus, Michaelmas crocus, Naked boys, Naked ladies, Autumn crocus, Fog crocus, Colchicum pannonicum
Genus
Colchicum Colchicum
Species
C. autumnale - C. autumnale is compact, clump-forming, cormous perennial with erect, strap-shaped, mid-green leaves and goblet-shaped, lavender-pink flowers blooming as or before the leaves emerge in autumn.
Native to
Europe
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump-forming
Toxicity
All parts are highly toxic if eaten.
Create your free Shoot garden
Create your free SHOOT garden and make a record of the plants in your garden.
Add your own photos, notes, get monthly email reminders on how to care for your plants, and connect with other gardeners. Get started now.
Colour
Flower
Pink in Autumn
Foliage
Green, Grey-green in Spring
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
General care
Pruning
No pruning needed.
Propagation methods
Seed
Monthly care advice
Get access to monthly care advice
Create a free SHOOT account and get instant access to expert care advice for this and other plants in your garden.
You'll also receive handy monthly email reminders of what needs doing. Create your free account.
Where to grow
Colchicum autumnale (Meadow saffron) will reach a height of 0.15m and a spread of 0.1m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Beds and borders, Containers, Cottage/Informal, Gravel, Meadow, Naturalised in turf, Rock, Underplanting, Wildflower
Cultivation
Plant in moist but well-drained, deep, humus-rich, fertile soil in full sun. Will not tolerate waterlogged conditions.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
North, South, East, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
USDA zones
Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6, Zone 5, Zone 4
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types) | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | North, South, East, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Hardy (H4) | Tell us... |
COMPANION PLANTS
GARDENS WITH THIS PLANT
Report content or feedback to Shoot
To add ? to your lists,
login to your account or subscribe.
Find out more about plant lists here
or Login
To add notes for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To add images for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To check if this plant is suitable for your garden first login to your account or subscribe.
or Login
DISCUSS THIS PLANT
Colchucum autumnale
Colchicum autumnale
There are 3 active discussions about Colchicum autumnale (Meadow saffron)
View all discussions