13 JULY 2019AMATEUR GARDENING 23The Award of Garden Merit is a mark of quality
awarded since 1922 to garden plants (including trees, vegetables and
decorative plants) by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).Colchicum autumnale ‘Album’
Up to six elegant goblets from each
bulb. Pure white blooms, blushed faintly
in pink, are followed by strap-like leaves
measuring 1ft (30cm) or more. The earliest
and probably most vigorous; multiplies
well. Flowers: Sept. H: 4-6in (10-15cm).Colchicum speciosum ‘Album’
Perhaps the variety most resistant to
summer storms, featuring a proliferation
of pure white, green-throated, heavily
textured goblets. Grows well under
deciduous trees; can be slow to establish.
Flowers: Sept-Oct. H: 8in (20cm).Colchicum byzantinum ‘Innocence’
A delightful and distinctive variety
with 6in (15cm), rounded white flowers
featuring a small purple flash at the tip
of each petal. Vigorous and appealing,
but the leaves are long at 11/2ft (45cm).
Flowers: Sept. H: 5in (12cm).
‘Waterlily’
Fully double flowers (like waterlilies) are
characterised by shorter petals in the
centre and longer ones at the edge. Up
to five flowers per corm. Grow through
groundcover to support the heavy
blooms. Flowers: Oct. H: 5in (12cm).Colchicum autumnale ‘Nancy Lindsay’
One of the loveliest, with up to 10
pinkish-violet flowers per corm. Darker
at the base of the goblet, they feature
faint veining on the outside of the petals,
plus a faint white stripe on the inside.
Flowers: Sept-Oct. H: 8in (20cm).growers, and their foliage can be tucked
in amongst the ground covers in spring.
Order corms from mail order suppliers
now, for delivery soon. Just be aware
that the flowers are primed to grow, so
you’ll need to plant them promptly –
leave it too long, and the flowers will
sneak their way out of the packet and
start blooming in the shed!
Robust growth
Reliability
Large number of flowers from
a single corm
Self-supporting flowersWhat makes a good colchicum?
Colchicum agrippinum
Flowers open almost flat, their lilac-pink
petals prettily chequered in a darker
shade and repaying close inspection.
One of the easiest and most robust
options, with fairly small, bluish-green
foliage. Flowers: Sept. H: 4in (10cm).
Long flowering season
Attractive flower colour or markings
Good availability
Good value for money
Tolerance of most garden conditions