Few
"bulbs" are more valuable and less appreciated than these. The
rather unfortunate common name refers to the general resemblance of
most colchicums to an oversized, fall-blooming crocus, but in fact the
two are quite distant both genetically and ornamentally. The genus is
best known to gardeners in the form of the large fall-blooming hybrids
such as 'Waterlily', and these are indeed showy, durable, unimpeachable
ornamentals, bringing a welcome splash of color to the garden at a time
when it is all too often lacking. Far less known and equally deserving,
however, are the many gardenworthy species (as well as some of the best
hybrids). The glorious diversity of the genus encompasses not only the
fall-blooming giants, but also spring-bloomers, summer-bloomers, and "dwarfs" (naturals for the rock garden); not only
species from cold-winter areas, but also numerous Mediterranean species
which relish milder winters and porous soils.
A garden that employs this full diversity can boast nearly constant
colchicum bloom from midsummer to spring, in habitats ranging from
rockery to meadow to perennial border to woodland edge. As for the
charge that their leaves are ungainly, this is a contemptible calumny.
We consider the lusty (typically spring-borne) leaves of the large
colchicums to be highly ornamental, certainly far more so than the
foliage of the average tulip or daffodil. Yes, they do go off in early
summer, but did you ever hear a tulip chastised for displaying this
behavior? All in all, this is a genus to be treasured. It is also a
genus
to be ordered early: we start shipping their corms in August, and
if you want to see bloom (rather than stubs of ex-blooms) this fall,
you will need to order before then. |
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