Autumn-blooming Colchicums and Crocuses: How and Where to Buy

Avoid the temptation to buy corms impulsively from store displays and countertop bins. This is the most important start to growing the best Colchicum (Photo #2) and autumn-blooming Crocus flowers (Photo #1). Displays in warm dry stores lead to drying out of developing flowers and leaves within the corms. Also, avoid buying blooming Colchicums forced as novelties in countertop displays because these also result in poor garden displays.

Purchasing Autumn-Flowering Bulbs

Buy dormant corms from internet / mail order catalog companies with good reputations that use well-established standards for bulb handling and storage. Responsible dealers usually keep corms and bulbs in storage areas that are cool (55 to 65° F. / 13-18°C), well ventilated and ethylene-free. Ethylene is a colorless, odorless gas produced by some plants that promotes ripening.of fruit. Ethylene causes flower abortion and other flowering problems in corms and bulbs exposed to it.

When to Plant

Colchicum and autumn-blooming Crocus blossoms emerge from September through early November in eastern North America. Online and catalog vendors usually deliver corms at the proper time for planting in specific plant hardiness growing zones. Therefore, when buying from these sources, plant corms as soon as possible after arrival. Corms need time in the ground to allow roots and emerging flowers to develop and yield the best blooms.

Storing Corms

Refrigerators are poor choices if necessary to store corms briefly because of the possibility of ethylene sources. A cool basement or storage room will protect from ethylene as well as from high temperatures and low humidity.

Sources for Colchicum and Autumn-blooming Crocus

There are many internet / mail order catalog sources for autumn-blooming corms. It is wise to research companies through Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings or online forums such as Dave’s Garden Watchdog.

Here are two sources owned and operated by horticulturists. Each source occupies and maintains a distinctive niche in the wholesale / retail bulb industry.

• Brent and Becky’s Bulbs website shows 16 varieties of Colchicum (Photo #3) and 12 of fall-blooming Crocus (Photos #4 & 5) This company is American-owned by third generation bulb horticulturists Brent and Becky Heath. They are daffodil hybridizers who trial many unusual and specialty bulbs on their 10 acre farm and gardens in Gloucester, VA. Order now for delivery between September 15th and December 15th. Readers may download a catalog from the Internet or request a print catalog from: 7900 Daffodil Lane, Gloucester, VA 23061 with telephone: 877-661-2852 and Fax: 804-693-9436
• White Flower Farms in Litchfield, CT offers six Colchicum and five Crocus corms Staff of White Flower Farms, owned by Eliot Wadsworth since 1976, actively collects and evaluates plants from around the world. They discard the fakes and weaklings, while propagating commercial quantities of the best for sale through three seasonal catalogues. They also maintain extensive trial and display gardens at the CT nursery that welcomes thousands of visitors each year. The staff numbers almost 100 professional and amateur horticulturists from around the world who provide knowledge and experience to customers. WFF offers two mixtures of fall-blooming corms which are ideal for either gardeners who have never grown fall-bloomers or those who simply can’t make up their minds.

Fall-blooming Crocus mixture: five varieties – 25 corms in all to cover 1-1/2 sq ft – provide color in shades of lilac, purple, and white for a fall finale. Four to six weeks are necessary for rooting and growth in a sunny, protected site.

Colchicum Sampler: three varieties, 9 corms total, it includes 3 bulbs of each variety below to provide an autumn garden drama. Varieties include:

• ‘Waterlily’ — A double-flowered, lilac-pink variety with flower stalks 6-8 in. tall. Just one bloom in a small vase makes an unusual bouquet.
• ‘Lilac Wonder’ — Large purple goblets, 10-12 in. tall, striped with fine white lines.
• Colchicum speciosum ‘Album’ — An award-winning selection, 7-12 in. tall, with pure white blooms that stand out against autumn colors.