(Japanese Clethra, Japanese Sweetshrub)

Underutilized as a remarkably beautiful shrub, Japanese clethra has glossy foliage, a beautiful late summer white flower display and colorful exfoliating bark. An upright large shrub to small tree, this deciduous plant is native to Japan and eastern China.

Its dark green, glossy leaves are long ovals. In mid- to late summer, the branch tips bear a little cluster or finger-like flower clusters that droop (raceme panicles). Slightly fragrant, they attract bees and butterflies. In autumn the foliage...

(Downy Clethra, Wooley White Alder)

With lightly fuzzy leaves, upright habit, and fuzzy spikes of fragrant flowers later than other pepperbushes (Clethra spp.), wooley white alder is a small suckering deciduous shrub. It hails from the moist or swampy woods in the southeastern United States from North Carolina to Florida and Alabama. Appearing around the autumnal equinox, the spice-scented white flowers attract butterflies and bees. Peppercorn-like seedheads follow the flowers, providing winter interest. The leaves turn butter-yellow...

(Cottondale Clethra, Downy Clethra, Wooley White Alder)

With lightly fuzzy leaves, upright habit, and fuzzy spikes of fragrant flowers later than other pepperbushes (Clethra spp.), wooley white alder is a small suckering deciduous shrub. It hails from the moist or swampy woods in the southeastern United States from North Carolina to Florida and Alabama. Appearing around the autumnal equinox, the spice-scented white flowers attract butterflies and bees. Peppercorn-like seedheads follow the flowers, providing winter interest. The leaves turn butter-yellow...

(Hybrid Autumn Crocus, Hybrid Meadow Saffron)

Delightfully fragrant, the violet-tinted rosy pink blooms of 'Rosy Dawn' robustly appear in earliest fall (rather than in spring like those of most other "bulbs"). Although sometimes called "autumn crocus," it is not related to the true crocus, which is in the iris family.

This hardy perennial produces large, oval leaves in spring, which gather energy for the underground bulb-like storage organ, known as a corm. In very early fall, about three months after the pointed leaves have withered, numerous...

(Hybrid Autumn Crocus, Hybrid Meadow Saffron)

Large in flower size and a robust display overall, the purplish blooms of 'The Giant' appear in earliest fall (rather than in spring like those of most other "bulbs"). Although sometimes called "autumn crocus," it is not related to the genus Crocus, which is in the iris family.

This hardy perennial produces large, broadly oval leaves in spring, which gather energy for the underground bulb-like storage organ, known as a corm. In very early fall, about three months after the pointed leaves...

(Hybrid Autumn Crocus, Hybrid Meadow Saffron)

Fragrant, checkered pink-violet blooms of 'Violet Queen' appear in earliest fall (rather than in spring like those of most other "bulbs"). Although sometimes called "autumn crocus," it is not related to the genus Crocus, which is in the iris family.

This hardy perennial produces large broad strap-shaped leaves in spring, which gather energy for the underground bulb-like storage organ, known as a corm. In late summer, about three months after the pointed leaves have withered, numerous...

(Double Autumn Crocus, Hybrid Autumn Crocus, Waterlily Autumn Crocus)

Prized for its exquisite lilac-pink fall flowers that indeed resemble those of its namesake, 'Waterlily' originated in the early twentieth century from a cross between Colchicum autumnale 'Alboplenum' and Colchicum speciosum 'Album'. Although sometimes called "autumn crocus," it is not related to the genus Crocus, which is in the iris family.

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

(Hybrid Autumn Crocus, White Double Autumn Crocus)

With as many as 20 white tepals on each fall flower, 'White Waterlily' originated from a cross between Colchicum autumnale 'Album' and Colchicum speciosum 'Album'. Although sometimes called "autumn crocus," it is not related to the genus Crocus, which is in the iris family.

This plant produces large handsome strap-shaped leaves in spring, which gather energy for the underground bulb-like storage organ, known as a corm. In late summer or early fall, about three months...

(Autumn Crocus, Meadow Saffron, Naked Ladies)

Like a welcome surprise, the lavender-pink, goblet-shaped flowers of autumn crocus pop up from the ground to confirm that summer has truly ended. 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 southern and western Europe to Russia, autumn crocus grows from plump corms (condensed underground stems) with papery tunics. In spring, these send up decorative large lance-shaped...

(Autumn Crocus, Meadow Saffron, Naked Ladies)

Like a welcome surprise, the lavender-pink, goblet-shaped flowers of autumn crocus pop up from the ground to confirm that summer has truly ended. 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 southern and western Europe to Russia, autumn crocus grows from plump corms (condensed underground stems) with papery tunics. In spring, these send up decorative large lance-shaped...