Colchicum autumnale 'Alboplenum'

RHS Plant Profile

meadow saffron 'Alboplenum'

Synonyms

Colchicum autumnale var. minor album plenum

Bulbs

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A cormous perennial with straplike basal leaves that emerge in spring and die back in summer. Double white flowers with masses of narrow petals appear in early autumn, with each corm producing up to 8 flowers

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 1 year
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

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): H5

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Colchicaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Columnar upright
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: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in a sunny position in deep, fertile soil that does not dry out. Intolerant of waterlogging. See bulb cultivation for more detailed advice

Propagation

Propagate by seed, sown in containers in an open frame as soon as ripe, or by division, separating corms when they are dormant in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

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

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs

Diseases

May be susceptibe to colchicum smuts, grey moulds and tulip grey bulb rot