Colchicum Hybrids – Colchicum I-R – Colchicum S-Z – Colchicum index
Colchicum species A through H are found on this wiki page.
Colchicum x agrippinum see Colchicum Hybrids
Colchicum autumnale is an early fall blooming species with small pink-purplish flowers that is a common meadow plant in Europe. Photo by John Lonsdale
Colchicum autumnale 'Album' is a white cultivar. Photo by John Lonsdale
Colchicum autumnale 'Alboplenum' is a double white garden selection. Photo by Arnold Trachtenberg
Colchicum baytopiorum from Turkey where it is found in rocky scrub has purplish-pink non-tessellated flowers. Photos by Arnold Trachtenberg. The photo labeled JMW taken by Jane McGary was taken in the wild, showing this species growing in the Roman-era ruins of Termessos near Antalya, southwestern Turkey.
Colchicum bivonae The first plant picture below, grown from wild-collected seed, is an example of the pure species Colchicum bivonae, which is a parent of many of the large-flowered Colchicum hybrids, often in crosses with Colchicum speciosum. Colchicum bivonae contributes the tessellation (checkering) to these hybrids. The second photo shows a deep-colored colchicum that lost its label thanks to a flock of crows a few years ago. It may be 'Vesta'. Photos by Jane McGary
Still another picture of this species taken by Bill Dijk.
Colchicum bivonae 'Apollo' This handsomely tessellated cultivar seems to be fairly reliable in my Maryland garden. About twenty years ago I received what was probably the same plant under the now discredited name Colchicum bowlesianum. Photo by Wayne Crist of a plant in the garden of Jim McKenney.
Colchicum boissieri has corms which travel horizontally. It is found in stony places in Greece and Turkey. The photo labeled JMW shows this species in the wild on the Mani Peninsula, southern Greece, in late October. Photos by Jane McGary and John Lonsdale.
Colchicum byzantinum see Colchicum Hybrids
Colchicum cilicicum is another species native to Turkey with pinkish-purple flowers and can be grown in open sunny borders. Photo by Arnold Trachtenberg
Colchicum cupanii is one of the smaller species, bearing 2-6 flowers and a couple of small leaves at the same time. Photos in habitat in Apulia-Italy by Angelo Porcelli
The first two photos below by Mark McDonough were taken on November 13, 2005. Notice the brave bumblebee in the first photo. The third photo was taken by John Lonsdale.
This picture from Jane McGary is of a form purchased from Monocot Nursery in England as Colchicum cupanii subsp. bertolonii It is an example of the smaller Colchicum species (cf. Colchicum hungaricum). Some botanists consider Colchicum bertolonii to be a synonym for Colchicum cupanii.
Photo by John Lonsdale of Colchicum cupanii ssp pulverulentum
Colchicum glossophyllum is a small species that blooms early. One authority says is a variant of C. cupanii; however, as you can see in the photo, the leaves are much broader and longer at anthesis than is typical of C. cupanii as I have seen it. The deep purple anthers are quite striking. Photos by Jane McGary and John Lonsdale.
Colchicum hungaricum - is a spring blooming species with white or pinkish-lilac flowers. Photos by Arnold Trachtenberg and John Lonsdale.
Colchicum Hybrids – Colchicum I-R – Colchicum S-Z – Colchicum index
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