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Liliaceae
COLCHICUM luteum
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 leaves wither in late spring.
This beautiful perennial is exacting in its requirements. Plant its corms in gritty, fast-draining soil in full sun and provide water when you see active growth. Withhold water after the leaves die back. Often this plant is cultured in an alpine house or bulb frame, so that conditions can be perfectly controlled. Too much moisture causes the corms to rot.
All parts of Colchicum contain the potent alkaloid colchicine; see http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/poison/Colchau.htm
9 - 1
4 - 9
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Bulb or Corm or Tuber
Full Sun
2"-4" / 5.1cm - 10.2cm
3"-10" / 7.6cm - 25.4cm
Early Spring, Late Winter
Asia, Central Asia, India
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Well Drained
Loam, Sand
Drought
Slow
Drought Tolerant
Clump-Forming
Spring
Showy
Yellow, Burgundy
Green
No
Single
Medium
Glossy
Alpine, Container, Rock Garden / Wall
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