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Colchicum 'Benton End'

meadow saffron 'Benton End'

An autumn-flowering, cormous perennial with slender blooms comprising a goblet of pinkish-purple petals, with a white star in the throat, supported on a greyish-purple perianth tube. Narrow, semi-erect leaves are produced in spring, fading by summer. Increases well in the garden

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0–0.1 metre

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Colchicaceae
Native to the UK: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Columnar upright, Clump forming
Potentially harmful: TOXIC if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling TOXIC to pets - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Genus: Colchicum are cormous perennials with usually coarse, broadly strap-shaped leaves which appear with or after the goblet-shaped flowers
Name status: Unresolved

How to grow

Cultivation

Plant 10cm deep in summer or early autumn in deep, fertile, moist but well-drained soil in a sunny site

Propagation

Propagate by separating corms when dormant in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Wildlife gardens
Flower borders and beds
Underplanting of roses and shrubs

Pruning

No pruning required; allow leaves to die down naturally

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs

Diseases

May be susceptible to grey moulds

Get involved

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Colchicum 'Benton End'

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