Colchicum colchicum is a plant from the bulbous family. In another name, colchicum, autumnal. It happened according to the name of the region of Georgia, where the flower comes from. In Russia, he was given his name - “autumn trees, winter-houses”, and the English name is “naked lady”. It grows throughout Europe and Asia. Colchicum is unpretentious and well-known among flower growers.
One of the ancient Greek legends tells that a flower appeared from blood drops belonging to Prometheus. Another version says that colchicum helped reunite mother goddess Demeter and her daughter Persephone.
Colchicum flower - description and features
Colchicum - herbaceous plants of a short life cycle. These are bulbous with large leaves resembling wild leek or lily of the valley. Within 2 weeks, the flowers are pollinated by insects, then the colchicum dies.
The ripened fruit in the form of a box is formed in the spring of next year at the same time with growing foliage, which has a length of up to 25-30 cm. The oval corm is covered with leathery scales. Several peduncles develop from it.
The main types and varieties of colchicum
Blooms in spring or autumn with beautiful goblet flowers of various lilac and pink hues.
| View | Description / Height, cm | Leaves | Flowers, flowering period | |
| Ankara (Bieberstein) (Colchicum ancyrense, biebersteimi or triphyllum) | Rare, early flowering. Up to eight buds. Each is among three leaves. 10-15. | Elongated lanceolate, grow at the same time with flowers. Dry at the end of flowering. | Violet. 10-12 days. | |
| Yellow (Colchicum luteum) | The plant is similar to grass, a short stem, buds with a diameter of 3 cm. The first description appeared in 1874. | 15 | Green, flat, grow at the same time with flowers. | Yellow. March-early July. |
| Hungarian (Colchicum hungaricum) | The plant is similar to grass on a short stalk. First described about 20 years ago. | On the surface are dense villi. Appear and dry simultaneously with the buds. | White or pinkish-purple with stamens of a dark red tone. Variety Velebit Star. Pink with golden stamens. | |
| Water-loving (Colchicum hydrophilum Siehe) | 4-8 buds bent outward develop, petals 2-3 cm long. 10-12. | Lanceolate acute form, grow at the same time as buds. | Pink, purple, purple or pale pink. | |
| Tufted (Colchicum fasciculare) | Flowers form a bunch, grow simultaneously with the leaves after snowmelt. 10-20. | Pale pink or white. March-early July. | ||
| Regel (Colchicum regelii, Colchicum kesselringii) | A miniature flower from 1-2 cm to 7-10 cm. It tolerates frosts up to -23 ° C. 5-10. | Lanceolate with a rounded tip, narrow, with a groove, carved along the edge. | Snow-white with streaks of cherry shade. March, April. | |
Colchicum autumn and its species: magnificent and others, varieties
Autumn colchicides are more popular than spring colchicums. The widespread varieties are bred to a greater degree among the species of Colchicum Magnificum.
| View | Description / Height, cm | Height cm | Leaves | Flowers |
| Agrippa (variegated) (Colchicum agrippinum) | Up to 3 buds on one stalk, 2 cm in diameter. 40. | Green, lanceolate, forming a wave along the edge. Appear in the spring. | Violet. Aug. Sept. | |
| Bornmüller (Colchicum bornmuelleri) | Grows in the wild. It is entered in the Red Book. Up to 6 flowers, diameter 8 cm. 12-15. | Light green, grow with flowers. | Pink with a purple hue base. September October. | |
| Gorgeous (Colchicum speciosum) | Known since 1874, most modern varieties come from it. Up to 3 buds on the peduncle. 50. | Green, have a length of 30 cm, dry in June. | Alboplenum. Terry, white. | |
| Atrorubens. Violet with a mid-white tone. | ||||
| Watered. 9-10 purple terry buds. | ||||
| Prime. Pink. | ||||
| Huxley. Changes color from pink to cherry. | ||||
| Byzantine (Colchicum byzantinum) | Familiar with the year 1597. Not common. 12 buds grow on one bulb. | 20-60 | A width of 10-15 cm and a length of 30 cm, lanceolate, grow in the spring. | White or purple. August-October. |
| Cilician (Colchicum cilicicum) | Familiar with the year 1571. On one bulb grows to 25 buds. | Green, lanceolate, grow in the spring. | Pink-violet with a white base. September October. | |
| Kochi (Colchicum kotschy) | It is famous for the most decorative. Small, numerous buds. 5. | Short. | Delicate ruddy. | |
| Variegated (Colchicum variegatum) | In the meadow among the stones. Up to 3 buds. 10-30. | Narrow lanceolate bluish-colored, wavy at the edges. May creep. | Pink, cherry, purple, brown stamens. | |
| Autumn (Colchicum autumnale) | Temperate climate. On one bulb several buds grow. 37. | Grow back in the spring, dry in the summer. | Lilac, white, light pink. 3-4 weeks. | |
| Shadow (Colchicum umbrosum) | Early. 10-15. | Lanceolate, 15 cm long with a rounded apex. | Violet or pale cherry. The beginning of April. | |
| Fomina (Colchicum Eformnii) | Grows in the wild. It is entered in the Red Book. Stem with 7 buds. 20-30. | Light green shade with villi. | Violet, purple. August-October. | |
Outdoor colchicum planting in open ground
Choose well-drained, loose, fertilized soils. He likes moist shaded places among trees or bushes, sometimes landing in the sun is possible. One place can take for 5-6 years. As they grow older, several young bulbs-children appear in the nest, then the flowering becomes not so violent. During this period, the plant requires planting.
Landing time
Flowers are planted at different times. For blooming in spring, autumn planting is required, for autumn - summer, from the second half of August.
Colchicum planting rules
A bed for planting is prepared in advance. The soil is filled with a bucket of humus and sand (1 bucket / sq.m.), Superphosphate (100 g / sq.m.) And ash (1 l) are added.
Before this, the bulbs are etched with Maxim: 1 sachet of 4 ml, 2 l of water. The prepared preparation is designed for processing 2 kg of planting material.
Small children are planted to a depth of 6-8 cm, large -10-15 cm. A layer of sand is poured under each bulb. They are located at a distance of 20-30 cm. After planting, the flowerbed is well shed with water. The tube growing from the corm, should rise above the surface, it can not be torn off.
During operation, it is worth remembering that the flower is poisonous, you need to handle it carefully, protecting your hands from accidental ingress of juice.
Colchicum breeding methods
Propagate the flower using young children and seeds.
Reproduction by children
Step by step:
- After drying the leaves, dig out the bulbs.
- Dry within a month in a shaded, ventilated place.
- Clear off any remaining roots and foliage.
- On August 15-25, plant in a flower bed, deepening by three times.
- Timely planted large colchicum bulbs bloom in the first season.
Growing colchicum from seeds
When breeding with seeds, it is worth considering that this method is troublesome, so it is rarely used, mainly for breeding rare species, especially spring-flowering.
Sowing seeds is carried out in open ground immediately after harvest. Pre-soaked in a growth stimulator (Zircon or Epin: 40 drops per 1 liter of water). Sowing with purchased seeds, preliminary stratification is carried out in wet tissue in the refrigerator for several days.
Shoots germinate unevenly, it takes several years. It blooms too soon, with good care after 6-7 years.
Agricultural technology comes down to timely work on weeding, cultivating and watering.
Colchicum care after planting
Looking after flowers is easy. It is important to monitor soil moisture. Despite the winter hardiness, they can freeze during snowless winters, so it is worth mulching with auxiliary materials: dry foliage, humus, compost up to 10 cm tall.
Watering
Colchicum does not need watering. In the spring there is enough moisture in the soil, in the summer its leaves die off. With its lack in the autumn, the plant is watered, trying not to touch the petals.
Top dressing
If the soil during the planting of the bulbs was sufficiently filled, in the future only spring dressing is needed. The first time they feed on snow with ammonium nitrate (10 g / sq.m.). The second top dressing in early May is carried out with potassium sulfate (15 g / sq.).
Transfer
Colchicum transplantation is done 1 time in 2-5 years. The signal is the reduction of flower buds and chopping them.
Land is prepared in advance in June. Refueling is the same as when planting young children.
The better the soil is fertilized, the better the bulbs develop and the flowering is more beautiful.
After the leaves have dried in late June, the flowers are dug up, sorted and cleaned of the remaining roots. Then disconnect and soak in a solution of potassium permanganate for 30 minutes. Planting material is dried and cleaned for storage before disembarking in August in a shaded ventilated area (temperature not more than +25 ° С).
Pests and diseases of colchicum
During prolonged rainy weather, flowers can be damaged by botritis, i.e. gray rot plants. An outbreak of the disease is also possible with abundant moisture in the flower or high standing groundwater. Usually, dying leaves are the first to suffer.
To combat the disease, use one of the following drugs, add to 10 liters of water:
- Topaz 2 ml;
- Cuproxate 50 ml;
- Champion 30 g.
Colchium can be damaged by slugs and snails, lovers feast on leaves. To scare them away, they add pebbles, small pebbles, eggshells, needles under the plants.
It is good to arrange containers with water around the perimeter of the plantings, which will also impede their movement.
Mr. Summer resident recommends: medicinal properties of the plant
Colchicum is used not only as a flowering plant, but also as a medicinal plant. Traditional medicine uses as a laxative and diuretic. They are relieved by pain in diseases of gout and rheumatism.
The plant is poisonous, should be taken with great care.
In official medicine, tablets, ointments and tinctures are used to help with cancer and neurological diseases.
A beautiful plant pleases the eye after snowmelt. With success, it helps to deal with complex diseases. It should be planted in the garden and admire the spring or autumn.
