(Autumn Crocus, Meadow Saffron, Naked Ladies)

One of the relatively few hardy "bulbs" to bloom late in the growing season, this cheerful perennial plant is certain to brighten the garden. A native of southeastern Europe, it grows from small globular corms (condensed underground stems) covered with papery tunics. The decorative, lance-shaped green leaves appear in early spring, providing nourishment for the corm before withering in late spring. In late summer, white buds emerge from the ground, maturing to deep reddish-purple flowers that create...

(Autumn Crocus, Naked Ladies)

One of the relatively few hardy "bulbs" to bloom late in the growing season, this European native is certain to brighten any garden. Its double-flowered cultivar 'Pleniflorum' bears numerous lavender-pink, starburst blooms in late summer.

Plump corms (condensed underground stems) covered with papery tunics send up large lance-shaped green leaves in early spring, which provide nourishment to the corm before withering and disappearing in early summer. In the waning days of summer, the flowers emerge...

(Byzantine Meadow Saffron)

Prized for its lilac-pink flowers that appear in late summer rather than in spring like those of most other "bulbs," this hardy perennial is a natural hybrid of Colchicum autumnale and Colchicum cilicicum. Native to Asia Minor, it has been known in gardens since the sixteenth century. Although sometimes called "autumn crocus," it is not related to the genus Crocus, which is in the iris family.

This plant produces large broad strap-shaped leaves in spring, which gather...

(Autumn Crocus)

Heralding the waning of summer's grasp, Colchicum cilicicum produces round-petaled flowers of fuchsia-rose without any leaves present. The common name is misleading, though the flowers of this hardy "bulb" do superficially resemble crocuses, colchicums are not related to the genus Crocus.

Native from the western Mediterranean from Turkey southward to Syria and Lebanon, this species of autumn crocus grows from plump corms (condensed underground stems) with papery tunics. In...

(Autumn Crocus)

Rounded petals of a violet-fuchsia greet the waning days of summer on the 'Purpureum' selection of Colchicum cilicicum. The common name is misleading, though the flowers of this hardy "bulb" do superficially resemble crocuses, colchicums are not related to the genus Crocus.

Hailing from Turkey southward to Syria and Lebanon, this species of autumn crocus grows from plump corms (condensed underground stems) with papery tunics. In spring, these send up decorative small lance-shaped...

(Giant Autumn Crocus)

Prized for its rosy-purple flowers that appear in late summer and early fall rather than in spring like those of most other "bulbs," this hardy perennial is native to northern Turkey. It has been known in gardens since the late nineteenth century. Although sometimes called "autumn crocus," it is not related to the genus Crocus, which is in the iris family.

This plant produces large broad strap-shaped leaves in spring, which gather energy for the underground bulb-like storage organ, known...

(Yellow Meadow Saffron)

Yellow meadow saffron is one of the most exquisite and uncommon spring flowering bulbs. This petite perennial from Afghanistan, northern India and Tibet grows from a small bulb-like corm. Its bright yellow flower buds arise on stalk-like tubes in late winter, emerging just after the green lance-shaped leaves. The floral tube usually has reddish-brown blushing which continues into the lowest part of the petal-like flower segments. Each corm can produce up to four small, goblet-shaped blossoms. The...

(Giant Meadow Saffron)

One of the largest and showiest colchicums, this perennial from uplands of southwestern Asia bears its lilac-purple, white-eyed blooms in late summer. Although sometimes called "autumn crocus," it is not related to the genus Crocus, which is in the iris family.

This plant produces large broad strap-shaped leaves in spring, which gather energy for the underground bulb-like storage organ, known as a corm. After the leaves wither in late spring, the corm quietly waits until late summer...

(Giant Meadow Saffron, White Giant Meadow Saffron)

Perhaps the most striking form of a beautiful "bulb" from southwestern Asia, 'Album' bears large white goblet-shaped flowers in late summer and early fall. Although sometimes called "autumn crocus," it is not related to the genus Crocus, which is in the iris family.

This plant produces large broad strap-shaped leaves in spring, which gather energy for the underground bulb-like storage organ, known as a corm. After the leaves wither in late spring, the corm quietly waits until late summer...

(White Breath-of-Heaven)

This South African native is a tender evergreen shrub with upright stems that bear white flowers.It has short, narrow leaves densely spaced on the stems, making the plant look soft and feathery. In late spring to summer, the many small white flowers in tight clusters appear along the tips of the stems.

White breath-of-heaven should be given a neutral to acidic, moist yet well-drained soil. Provide as much sun as possible for best growth and full flowering. Average watering is sufficient in the...