Re: [SG] Colchicums; Autumn Crocus

Hello Bobbi,
        The colchicums are not difficult. Plant them well drained in sun to part
shade and forget. The bulbs on most selections multiply fairly well and
they will seed themselves into the mulch. I do find the foliage pretty
coarse and not particularly attractive. It will also begin to go dormant
just as everything else in the bed is looking great. I have mine planted
between hardy geraniums. Geranium foliage helps to hide the dying foliage
of the fall crocus and the blooms look great poking up through the deep
green foliage of the Geraniums later in the year.
        Be sure and shop around on the bulbs. Prices vary greatly on the same
selections. Most fall bulb catalogs will have one half to a full page on
these to choose from. You do have to order earlier than on the other bulbs
since these have to be in the ground to begin blooming in September. Mine
lasted until the last of October this year. Ii have had four species and
selections for some years now.
        Gene Bush     Southern Indiana    Zone 6a     Munchkin Nursery
          around the woods - around the world
genebush@otherside.com     http://www.munchkinnursery.com


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> I've been reading about these of late and wondered if anybody out there
in
> Zones 5/6 grows them. As I recall, they are rather expensive, at least
the
> colchicums are; the few I have seen seem to come up one year, bloom for a
> few days, much of that time looking rather feeble, and then disappear
> forever. So my question is, are these bulbs to take seriously if you
> garden in the Midwest? Are they difficult to grow, as I suspect?
>
> Bobbi Diehl
> Bloomington, IN
> zone 5/6
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