SKU: 00840369421272 3 Autumn Crocus Colchicum Byzantium Bulbs-- Fall Blooming Mix!

Key Features

• Growth Habit: Clump-forming, cormous perennial with an unusual growth cycle. Broad green foliage emerges in spring and dies back by summer, followed by leafless flowers in late summer to fall. Established corms gradually multiply to form larger colonies.
• Bloom Color: Large, goblet-shaped flowers in shades of rosy lavender, lilac-pink, and mauve, often with paler centers. Multiple flowers can emerge from each mature corm.
• Fragrance: Little to no noticeable fragrance; grown primarily for its dramatic autumn color.
• Fruit Flavor: None. Fruits and seeds are highly toxic and must not be eaten.
• Culinary Uses: None. Never use Autumn Crocus as food. All portions of Colchicum contain colchicine and related toxic alkaloids. It should never be confused with the edible spice-producing Saffron Crocus (Crocus sativus).
• Medicinal Uses: Colchicine derived from certain Colchicum species has important pharmaceutical applications, but the raw plant is highly poisonous and must never be used as a homemade herbal remedy. Pharmaceutical colchicine is carefully purified and precisely dosed under medical supervision.
• Possible Toxicity to Pets or Humans: Highly toxic to humans, cats, dogs, horses, and livestock if ingested. All parts—including flowers, leaves, seeds, and especially the corms—contain colchicine. Poisoning can cause severe vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, organ damage, and potentially fatal complications. Wear gloves when handling corms and keep plants away from children and animals likely to eat them.
• Wildlife & Pest Resistance: Flowers can provide late-season interest for pollinating insects. Deer, rabbits, and rodents generally avoid established plants because of their toxicity. Slugs and snails may occasionally damage foliage or flowers, but the plant is generally low maintenance.
• Planting Zone: Hardy in USDA Zones 4–9.
• Sun Preferences: Full sun to partial shade. A site receiving approximately 4–6 or more hours of sunlight is ideal. Planting beneath deciduous trees works particularly well because the spring foliage receives ample sunlight before the trees fully leaf out.
• Drought Tolerance: Moderate to high once established, particularly during summer dormancy. Spring moisture supports healthy foliage and corm development, but consistently wet or poorly drained soil can cause rot.
• Mature Size: Flowers generally reach 6–8 inches tall, while spring foliage may grow approximately 10–14 inches tall. Clumps gradually spread as the corms multiply.

When and How to Prune

• Do not cut back the spring foliage while it is green. The leaves manufacture and store energy needed for the following autumn's flowers.
• Allow foliage to naturally turn yellow and die back in late spring to early summer.
• Once completely yellow or brown, dead foliage can be gently removed at ground level.
• After autumn flowering, spent blossoms may be removed for appearance, although deadheading is not necessary for plant health.
• Wear gloves when pruning or handling the plant because all parts contain toxic compounds.
• Divide overcrowded clumps during summer dormancy if flowering begins to decline.

Planting Instructions (Corms into the Ground)

1. Plant Colchicum corms in late summer to early fall, ideally as soon as they are received. Corms may begin flowering even before planting if stored too long.
2. Choose a location with fertile, well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade.
3. Dig a hole approximately 4–6 inches deep, or roughly three times the height of the corm.
4. Position the corm with the growing point facing upward and the flatter basal portion downward.
5. Space corms approximately 6–8 inches apart. For a naturalized appearance, plant them in informal groups rather than straight rows.
6. Backfill with soil and gently firm the surface.
7. Water thoroughly after planting to settle the soil and encourage root development.
8. Avoid planting in low areas where water collects during winter or spring.
9. Mark the planting location, since the foliage disappears during summer and the dormant corms can easily be disturbed accidentally.

Overwintering Steps

• 'Byzantium' is reliably winter hardy in USDA Zones 4–9 and normally remains in the ground year-round.
• After autumn flowering ends, the corms remain dormant underground through winter.
• Apply a light 1–2 inch layer of mulch after the ground becomes cold in colder regions, especially during the first winter after planting.
• Avoid heavy mulch or consistently wet winter soil, which can encourage corm rot.
• New foliage emerges in spring and should be allowed to grow undisturbed until it naturally dies back.
• Once established, plants generally require very little winter protection.
• Divide congested colonies during summer dormancy every several years as needed, replanting the corms promptly.

With its unusual growing cycle and luminous lavender-pink flowers, Autumn Crocus 'Byzantium' provides a welcome burst of color just as the summer garden begins winding down. Its ability to naturalize, excellent cold hardiness, and minimal maintenance make it a wonderful choice for perennial borders, woodland edges, and mass plantings. Because of its significant toxicity, however, it should always be planted and handled with care—particularly in gardens frequented by young children or pets.