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Autumn Crocus Disaster

13 years ago

This is my first fall in a new house and I really wanted something to bloom NOW! So I planted autumn crocus. What a disaster! They sprout, they flop, they end up looking like they've been steamrolled. It's really a depressing sight. I ripped 'em out in a fit of annoyance.

I am guessing the smarter way to plant them is in between some other perennial that will help hold them up.

What do other people do?

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Comments (4)

wvbetsy
13 years ago
I love fall crocus. Unfortunately, they don't last very long. They do flop but I enjoy them while they're still standing. Mixing them in with ground covers and other low growing plants gives a very nice affect.
wvbetsy
13 years ago
By autumn crocus do you mean colcheums or true crocus? I grow both and enjoy the color they add to the fall garden.
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Ye gods! I hope you have a professional knowledge of biological medicine. This is not a herb to muck around with. All parts of the plant, but especially the bulb, are poisonous. They cause vomiting, violent purging, serious inflammation of the stomach and bowels, and DEATH. Handling the corms can cause skin allergies in some people. No way in the world am I going to help you kill your husband! Leave this plant and colchicine in the hands of your doctor and pharmacist and other experts, who at least have some idea of what they're doing!
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Saw a nice bunch in the Montlake neighborhood of Seattle last(?) fall, in a sunny spot. Have also grown it myself, some time ago (don't remember having an idea why it died out, maybe just soil infertility - bulbs seem to need to be kept fed to persist and bulk up here).
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Gail, I'm sorry the Fall Crocus bulbs aren't blooming this year. Watch for the foliage next Spring and they should be in bloom by early Fall. If they don't show leaves in Spring, let me know and I'll bring you a replacement at the next swap! Hoagie (Phyllis)
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Comments (20)
This is not a crocus (obviously), but was quite a surprise to find after planting bulbs only six weeks ago. Darn the weather is screwy lately, I don't blame the bulbs being confused. It was 85 two days ago, tonight it should reach 28 for the first hard freeze. I'm sure it'll be back in the eighties in a week or so.
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aggiebee
Original Author
13 years ago
They are true crocus, I have more just poking out in other parts of the garden (I put them in late). What ground covers and low growing plants would you recommend?
wvbetsy
13 years ago
There are many fall crocus and no all of them flop. I have crocus cartwrightianus which is just finishing blooming and it doesn't flop. I have others that flop and I don't know which ones they are. I planted them years ago and have lost the labels. I also have safron crocus. They hold up fairly well because the foliage comes up with the bloom.

Check out the question about saffron crocus blooming; follow the link in the answer and you will learn alot about the various fall crocus.

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