Meadow saffron

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; avoid deep shade.

Water

Keep soil moderately moist during spring growth and autumn flowering. Water sparingly during summer dormancy, without letting the soil remain waterlogged.

Soil

Fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil; tolerates clay if drainage is good.

Height

Flowers 0.3-0.5 ft (0.1-0.15 m); spring foliage 0.5-1 ft (0.15-0.3 m)

Spread

0.3-0.5 ft (0.1-0.15 m) per plant, gradually forming wider clumps

Flowers

Early to mid-autumn; pink to lilac, goblet-shaped flowers without leaves.

Foliage

Broad, upright, glossy green leaves emerge in spring and yellow by early summer; dormant and leafless through much of summer.

Growth

Moderate; clumps enlarge gradually through corm offsets.

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Deer resistant
• Cold hardy
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Very tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   0.4 ft (0.13 m)

   full size

About 1 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

Native to

the UK

Growth rate

Moderate

• Plant dormant corms in late summer, with about 3-4 in (8-10 cm) of soil above them and 6 in (15 cm) between plants.
• Water during prolonged dry spells while leaves are green or flowers are developing; avoid persistently wet soil.
• Apply a thin layer of garden compost around clumps in spring, keeping it clear of emerging shoots.
• Let spring leaves die back naturally; do not tie them up or mow them while green.
• Lift and divide crowded clumps during summer dormancy, then replant promptly; wear gloves when handling corms.

Pruning. Remove spent flowers if desired and clear away foliage only once it has yellowed and died back in early summer. No other pruning is needed.

Spring

Top-dress with compost and water if dry while the leaves are actively growing.

Early summer

Allow leaves to yellow completely before removing them or mowing naturalised grass.

Summer

Divide congested clumps while dormant and replant the corms promptly.

Late summer

Plant new corms as soon as available; mark their positions to avoid accidental digging.

Autumn

Check emerging flowers for slug damage and water during prolonged dry weather.

Winter

Check that the planting area drains freely and does not remain saturated.

• Plant in loose groups beneath deciduous shrubs, where spring light supports the leaves and autumn flowers show through.
• Use at the front of perennial borders beside plants that soften the gap left by summer dormancy.
• Naturalise in ornamental grass that can remain uncut until the spring foliage has died back; never use grazing land.
• Repeat small drifts along a lightly shaded path, away from edible beds and places where children or pets may investigate.

Garden styles it suits: Cottage garden, English country, Woodland, Autumn colour, Romantic rose garden and Grand estate.

Plant it with: Hardy geraniums, Hostas, Lady's mantle, Japanese anemones, Sedges and Deciduous ferns.

Wildlife: Bees may visit the autumn flowers. Its severe toxicity makes it unsuitable for livestock pasture or hay meadows.

• Slugs and snails can damage flowers and leaves; inspect regularly and use barriers, hand-picking or a locally approved control.
• Corm rot develops in waterlogged ground; improve drainage or move dormant corms to a better-drained site, discarding rotten ones.
• Poor flowering can follow deep shade or premature leaf removal; provide more spring light and leave foliage intact until fully yellow.
• Autumn flowers may flop in heavy rain or exposed positions; plant in a sheltered spot among low, open companions.

Highly poisonous to people, cats, dogs and horses. All parts, including flowers, leaves, seeds and corms, contain colchicine; ingestion can cause fatal poisoning, and dried material remains dangerous. Never use it as saffron or eat leaves mistaken for wild garlic. Suspected ingestion requires immediate medical or veterinary advice, even before symptoms appear.

• Saffron crocus (Crocus sativus)

  Saffron crocus has three stamens, three conspicuous red stigma branches and narrow, grass-like leaves. Meadow saffron has six stamens and broad leaves that appear separately in spring;

• Autumn-flowering crocus (Crocus speciosus)

  This true crocus has three stamens and usually violet-blue flowers with darker veins and branched orange stigmas. Meadow saffron has six stamens and generally pinker flowers.

• Wild garlic (Allium ursinum)

  Wild garlic has individual leaves on distinct stalks, a garlic scent and white spring flower clusters. Meadow saffron produces a tight cluster of broad leaves, often around a developing seed capsule;

Colchicum refers to Colchis, an ancient region by the Black Sea, while autumnale means autumn-flowering.

Propagation. Separate corm offsets during summer dormancy and replant promptly. Seed propagation is possible but slow, with germination sometimes delayed and flowering taking several years.

Accepted botanical name

Colchicum autumnale

In the US and Canada

Introduced in the lower 48 states.

Native range

Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland and Italy.

Measured

Soil pH 6.5 to 7. Average height 36 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.