Colchicum Care Must-Knows
Colchicum grows best in rich, well-drained soil and partial shade or full sun. In Zones 6 and above, choose a part-shade planting location for best growth. This plant grows from large, heavy corms. Because of their size, they are expensive compared to many spring-blooming bulbs. But they multiply reliably return year after year and are pest-proof—making the investment well worth the money. Corms should be large, heavy, and free of mold or moisture when you purchase them. In early fall plant the corms 3 to 4 inches deep, orienting them so the pointed side is up. Cover them with garden soil and water well. This plant sends up large, hostalike leaves in spring that produce nutrients for the bulb. In early to mid-summer the foliage turns yellow and fades into the garden. In early fall colchicum sends up naked stems from which lavender-pink to lilac-pink flowers unfurl (one per stem). Water colchicum in early spring when foliage is actively growing, and again in fall when the stem is elongating and flowers are blooming. Find the answers to your bulb questions here!
