Re: Autumn crocus and colchicum >
- To: perennials@mallorn.com
- Subject: Re: Autumn crocus and colchicum >
- From: L* a* A* F*
- Date: Sat, 10 Jul 1999 20:40:59 -0500
Dear Louise,
Colchicum are members of the lily family and Crocus are members of the iris
family.
which isn't much help unless you want to start hybridizing. For the gardener,
I think the most important differences are the size of the flowers and the size
of the leaves. All the colchicums I have seen have huge flowers, tulip size at
least,
where the crocus flowers are small. However, colchicum foliage is equally huge
and
floppy besides. Nothing can be planted in range of the foliage, or it will be
smothered
Kind of like an oriental poppy that must be placed at the front of the border.
Autumn crocus have small foliage that, for me, just sort of fades away. I grow
some of the crocuses
up through low growing plants like the creeping veronicas and others tucked
under perennials
that can be cut back in late August. The crocus foliage doesn't bother them,
although
I may eventually have to dig the whole mess up to divide the crocus corms.
I have never been able to figure out what to do with colchicums, so I go
visit them at
the local botanic garden.
Lisa Flaum
Waterloo, south-west Illinios, USA
Min -10F Max 105F (-24C to 40C)
Wet winter, Dry summer punctuated by gully-washers; high humidity, unreliable
snow cover, clay soil. Member NARGS, IBS, SRGC, AGS, AHS, RHS, APS, ACS (I
like seed exchanges)
>
>After the discussion on the list a few weeks ago about late
>summer and autumn bulbs I decided to get some autumn crocus
>and/or colchicum. I love seeing them at a large garden we
>visit regularly. I've got a catalogue and have made my
>choice but what I want to know is: what is the difference
>between the two sorts of bulbs? They look identical to me.
>
>Louise, southern England
>
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