Great Plant Pick: Colchicum autumnale ‘Alboplenum’

Published 1:30 am Thursday, September 22, 2016

Great Plant Pick: Colchicum autumnale ‘Alboplenum’
1/2
Great Plant Pick: Colchicum autumnale ‘Alboplenum’
Colchicum autumnale ‘Alboplenum’ is a fall-blooming bulb. (Richie Steffen / Great Plant Picks)

What: Colchicum autumnale ‘Alboplenum’

In early autumn, large star-shaped white, fully double flowers burst from the ground. This enduring bulb has broad strappy and shiny green foliage in late winter through spring, but goes dormant for the summer. Then, before the leaves emerge again, the flowers push through the soil and bloom in late September to early October. Although commonly referred to as autumn crocus, Colchicum autumnale is not closely related to true crocus.

Size: 6 inches tall, 2 inches wide

Where: full sun

Water: drought tolerant

— Richie Steffens, Great Plant Picks