All About Fall Flowering Crocus

All About Saffron CrocusAll About Saffron Crocus

There's something delightful about fall flowering crocus. No matter how long you grow them, they always surprise you in fall with their bright, cheery flowers. Maybe it's because we don't expect them this time of year or because they stand out with the lack of other brightly-colored flowers in the garden, but they seem to shine each autumn.

All About Fall Flowering Crocus: Varieties and Uses

Fall Flowering Crocus fall into two categories. The small-flowered types, such as edible saffron crocus, have flowers much like their spring flowering cousins. The flowers appear followed by the grass-like foliage either at flowering or later in fall. These Crocuses come in colors such as white, purple-blue, and lilac. Most are hardy in USDA zones 6 to 9, but there are some species that can grow in the colder climates of USDA zones 4 and 5.

The most common fall crocus is the edible Saffron Crocus (Crocus sativus)! Purple flowers appear in early fall in cold areas and, later in fall in warmer locations. It's hardy to USDA zone 5. The thin red filaments in the flower can be delicately removed with a tweezer and used in cooking – these are the same saffron threads that you find in the spice aisle. Or you can harvest the flowers when open and do the tweezing indoors. To dry saffron, place it in an oven on low heat until the filaments are light and breakable. You can also lay them out on a table in a dry room, out of direct sun, for a few days to dry.

Saffron CrocusSaffron Crocus
Saffron Crocus
Colchicum Autumn WhiteColchicum Autumn White
Colchicum Autumn White

There are other fall flowering crocus similar to saffron crocus that are grown just for their beauty. Crocus specious is the hardiest of the small fall flowering crocus, surviving in USDA zone 4 climates. They have blue to mauve colored flowers. There is a white flowering version as well with snowy colored blooms and yellow stems. Crocus pulchellus is similar to the species crocus, but has a pale lilac colored flower with purple veins.

The other group of fall flowering crocus are really not crocus at all, but a type of lily. Colchicum also have the common name Autumn Crocus. The flowers emerge in fall, followed by the foliage which appears the next spring. Colchicums have larger-sized flowers than Saffron Crocus. They burst from the ground in September and October putting on quite a show when planted in groups.

Most Colchicums are hardy to USDA zone 5. The flowers are white, pink, blue, purple or rose depending on the variety. The flowering is enhanced because each bulb will send up a bouquet of flowers on 5 to 10 stems. The flowers stand 6 to 8 inches tall, making a statement in the garden. Look for different-colored varieties. After flowering the bulbs (corms) go dormant until spring. Then they send up broad leaves to collect energy from the sun and rejuvenate the bulb for the fall. The leaves yellow and fade by summer.

All About Fall Flowering Crocus: Extend Your Garden With Fall-Flowering Crocus

These fall flowering gems will add extra color to your garden when many other plants have passed. Plant the small flowered fall crocus in rock gardens, under trees, around shrubs, and in the ground to cover patches, or even scattered throughout your lawn! If you plant in the lawn, let the foliage emerge and naturally yellow for abot 4-6 weeks without mowing it. This will work fine in many colder areas, since the lawn is growing slowly in autumn. In the flower garden, plant them where their colorful blossoms will pair nicely with other fall flowers such as sedum and dwarf aster.

Colchicum Water LilyColchicum Water Lily
Colchicum Water Lily

The larger colchicum bulbs can be planted in among evergreen ground covers and in the perennial border. In a rock garden they can flop over, especially if not grown in full sun.

They shine when planted among vinca, ivy and other evergreen ground covers because their bright flowers contrast well with the foliage, and they're supported by the sturdy green groundcovers. Plus, the groundcovers prevents soil from splashing up onto the flowers, keeping them clean looking until they fade in a week or so.

All About Fall Flowering Crocus: Additional Tips

Small flowered fall crocus can also be planted in containers. Plant in later summer in a container with good drainage holes filled with moistened potting soil. Place in a sunny location and keep evenly moist. After flowering, let the foliage emerge. In cold areas, protect the containers by bringing them into an unheated garage or basement for winter.

When planting fall flowering crocus, plant the bulbs (corms) twice the diameter of the bulb deep. For small fall crocus, this is about 3 to 4 inches, while colchicums can be planted up to 4 to 6 inches deep. Plant on the deep side in sandy soils and shallow side in clay soils. Plant in groups for the biggest visual impact. After a late summer or early fall planting, fall flowering crocus should bloom in about 4 to 6 weeks depending on your climate.

Shop Fall Flowering Crocus Bulbs

  1. Purple Saffron Crocus Bulbs, Crocus sativus, Saffron Crocus

    Saffron is worth its weight in gold, so it pays to grow your own! These beautiful purple crocus flower in fall and offer you pure, prized edible saffron on each flower‚s stigma...

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    Saffron Crocus Saffron Crocus Crocus sativus
    As low as $11.99 Sale $8.99
    Per Bag of 15
    Saffron is worth its weight in gold, so it pays to grow your own! These beautiful purple crocus flower in fall and offer you pure, prized edible saffron on each flower's stigmas. Easy to grow and exceptional in containers. (Crocus sativus)
  2. Pink Colchicum Bulbs Water Lily, Colchicum autumnale

    This is the world-famous double pink fall flowering colchicum. Each bulb produces 5 to 10 brightly-colored flowers that pop gorgeously among the crowds of autumn leaves. Long-lasting...

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    Water Lily Colchicum Giant Autumn Crocus Water Lily Colchicum autumnale 'Water Lily'
    $9.99 Sale $7.49
    Per Bag of 1
    This is the world-famous double pink fall flowering colchicum. Each bulb produces 5 to 10 brightly-colored flowers that pop gorgeously among the crowds of autumn leaves. Long-lasting cut blooms are pure elegance in a shallow vase. (Colchicum autumnale)
  3. Pink Colchicum Bulbs Giant, Colchicum giganteum, Autumn Colchicum

    Extra-large flowers in purplish pink. Great for patio pots in fall. Each Colchicum bulb produces 5-10 flowers. (Colchicum giganteum)...

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    Giant Colchicum Giant Autumn Crocus Giant Colchicum giganteum 'Giant'
    $9.99 Sale $7.49
    Per Bag of 1
    Extra-large flowers in purplish pink. Great for patio pots in fall. Each Colchicum bulb produces 5-10 flowers. (Colchicum giganteum)
  4. White Autumn Crocus Bulbs, Crocus kotschyanus, Autumn Crocus zonatus

    Glistening pure-white crocus flowers sparked with orange and yellow anthers catch everyone‚s attention against the deep-blue skies of autumn. As welcome in fall as the famous w...

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    White Fall Flowering Crocus Autumn Crocus White Crocus kotschyanus 'Albus'
    $9.99 Sale $7.49
    Per Bag of 6
    Glistening pure-white crocus flowers sparked with orange and yellow anthers catch everyone's attention against the deep-blue skies of autumn. As welcome in fall as the famous white crocus is in springtime. (Crocus kotschyanus)
  5. White Colchicum Bulbs Autumn White, Colchicum autumnale, Autumn Colchicum

    Pure white flowers of this Colchicum appear in fall just weeks after planting. Each bulb will produce 5 to 10 flowers. Deer Resistant. (Colchicum autumnale)...

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    Autumn White Colchicum Giant Autumn Crocus White Colchicum autumnale 'Album'
    $9.99 Sale $7.49
    Per Bag of 1
    Pure white flowers of this Colchicum appear in fall just weeks after planting. Each bulb will produce 5 to 10 flowers. Deer Resistant. (Colchicum autumnale)

About the Author: Charlie Nardozzi is a nationally recognized garden speaker, author, consultant, radio and TV show host. He delights in making gardening information simple, easy, fun and accessible to everyone. Visit his website, GardeningwithCharlie.com for how-to gardening information, and for more about Charlie.

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