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Meadow Saffron

Colchicum Speciosum

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Overview

Meadow Saffron (Colchicum speciosum) is a striking fall-blooming perennial, showcasing vibrant, purple-pink, goblet-shaped flowers up to 6 inches tall, appearing before its strappy green leaves in spring. Thriving in USDA zones 4-8, it requires moist, well-drained soil and partial shade. Caution: all plant parts are toxic. Its autumnal blooms add a unique splash of late-season color, ideal for naturalizing in grassy areas or planting in borders and rock gardens.

Sun Full, HalfWater MediumZones 3–8Type BulbClimate Mediterranean

Meadow Saffron (Colchicum Speciosum) — Its autumnal blooms add a unique splash of late-season color; this captivating plant is commonly known for, image 96

Culture

Sun: Full, Half
Water: Medium
USDA zones: 3–8

Shape & size

Mature height: 0.5–0.75 Ft.
Mature width: 0.5–0.75 Ft.

Classification

Type: Bulb
Family: Iridaceae
Climate: Mediterranean

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Photos (149)

Meadow Saffron (Colchicum Speciosum) — This makes it perfect for garden borders or naturalizing in grassy areas; when most other plants are fading

Meadow Saffron (Colchicum Speciosum) — presenting a bold statement in the fall garden; appearing before its strappy green leaves in spring, image 78

Meadow Saffron (Colchicum Speciosum) — It thrives in USDA hardiness zones 4 through 8 and performs best in full sun to partial shade; with a spread, image 105

Meadow Saffron (Colchicum Speciosum) — Colchicum speciosum can be a stunning and resilient addition to any garden; bulb with purple blooms, image 116

Meadow Saffron (Colchicum Speciosum) — the Meadow Saffron appreciates well-drained; purple flowers in the garden

Meadow Saffron (Colchicum Speciosum) — appearing before its strappy green leaves in spring; presenting a bold statement in the fall garden, image 93

Meadow Saffron (Colchicum Speciosum) — However, avoid waterlogged conditions, as this can lead to bulb rot; so it should be sited away from, image 145

Meadow Saffron (Colchicum Speciosum) — the Meadow Saffron appreciates well-drained; purple flowers in the garden, image 103

Meadow Saffron (Colchicum Speciosum) — purple flowers in the garden

Meadow Saffron (Colchicum Speciosum) — Meadow Saffron (Colchicum speciosum) is a striking fall-blooming perennial

Meadow Saffron (Colchicum Speciosum) — the Meadow Saffron appreciates well-drained; purple flowers in the garden, image 73

Meadow Saffron (Colchicum Speciosum) — purple flowers in the garden; the Meadow Saffron appreciates well-drained, image 118

Meadow Saffron (Colchicum Speciosum) — Its autumnal blooms add a unique splash of late-season color

Meadow Saffron (Colchicum Speciosum) — appearing before its strappy green leaves in spring; presenting a bold statement in the fall garden, image 123

Meadow Saffron (Colchicum Speciosum) — However, avoid waterlogged conditions, as this can lead to bulb rot

Meadow Saffron (Colchicum Speciosum) — ideal for naturalizing in grassy areas or planting in borders and rock gardens; this makes it perfect for, image 97

Meadow Saffron (Colchicum Speciosum) — Meadow Saffron (Colchicum speciosum) is a striking fall-blooming perennial; thriving in USDA zones 4-8, it requires

Meadow Saffron (Colchicum Speciosum) — Thriving in USDA zones 4-8, it requires moist, well-drained soil and partial shade; however, avoid, image 64

Meadow Saffron (Colchicum Speciosum) — when most other plants are fading

Meadow Saffron (Colchicum Speciosum) — only to die back before the flowering season.<br><br>Growing to a height of about 6 to 10 inches

Meadow Saffron (Colchicum Speciosum) — Caution: all plant parts are toxic; goblet-shaped flowers up to 6 inches tall

Meadow Saffron (Colchicum Speciosum) — Meadow Saffron (Colchicum speciosum) is a striking fall-blooming perennial; thriving in USDA zones 4-8, it, image 121

Meadow Saffron (Colchicum Speciosum) — bulb for full or half

Meadow Saffron (Colchicum Speciosum) — with a spread of roughly 3 to 6 inches; keep in mind that all parts of this plant are highly toxic if, image 132

Photographs by 14 contributors

Charlie Jackson, CC BY 2.0 · source
Petr Vodička, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Sergei Kazantsev, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Ettore Balocchi, CC BY 2.0 · source
Meneerke bloem, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
meneerke bloem, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Stefan.lefnaer, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Lalakmus, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
User:BotBln, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Thomas Huntke, CC BY-SA 3.0 de · source
gailhampshire from Cradley, Malvern, U.K, CC BY 2.0 · source
Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Syrio, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
David J. Stang, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

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