PLANT OF THE WEEK

Colchicum autumnale ‘Album’

EARLY September is key season for our most bizarre and contrary bulbs — the colchicums. Often called ‘autumn crocuses’, these produce naked, crocus-like flowers during late summer and early autumn. Our one native species, Colchicum autumnale is a rare and delicate wildflower. In September, clusters of frail, lilacpink flowers appear in ancient pasture and on grassy banks. It is rarely offered for sale but other colchicums are widely available. These include two white forms of our native wildflower — C. autumnale Album and double-flowered C. a. Alboplenum.