I may have missed the boat, but I've been hoping to expand my collection of Colchicums. These bulbous corms are popular among keen gardeners who long for their cheery color in late summer and into early fall. They are rarely bothered by pests (they're actually quite poisonous) and require almost no care and maintenance besides clean-up of the large, glossy, medium green foliage in late spring. Then they completely disappear in summer only to surprise the gardener in fall with spectacular flowers like these:
Local nurseries will sometimes carry them (Wells Medina has a pretty good selection), but getting them mail order is probably your best bet!
Brent and Becky's Bulbs (I met these folks recently at a Garden Writer's Symposium in Raleigh, NC. Wow, can Becky sing!).
Ok, next year I need to place my order early!
R
Riz, is this the Colchicum that is used in Ploidy manipulation, JK
ReplyDeleteYup yup! Some people have tried to take bulbs and mash them to create a concoction that is used to induce polyploidy in plants! Don't really know much about how it's done, but I'm sure there's some literature out there.
ReplyDeleteI can only admire these from afar, now that i'm in LA. Love, love, love the waterlily form!
ReplyDeleteCheck out Kathy Purdy's blog and search for her colchicum posts over the years....(www.coldclimategardening.com) - she is a colchicum maven!
Debra
Thanks Debra! She actually found this post on my SeattlePI.com blog and told me about her Colchicum addiction!!
ReplyDelete