A ugust is the only time of year to plant an easy- to-grow giant crocus that blooms a few weeks later – in September. Fall blooming colchicums go by the name of ‘Autumn Crocus’, although they are not really a crocus at all. In fact, they belong to the lily family and are nati ve to the Mediterranean region. Colchicum bulbs become huge and can, over time, produce 19 to 25 flowers, one right after the other, until they all open in a profu- sion of colour. A lady, who used to grow thou- sands in her backyard in Vancouver, told me it takes about two years for a small bulb to grow into a huge specimen, at which point it splits into four smaller ones. Small bulbs will produce five to seven flowers; mid-sized bulbs will ha ve about a dozen blooms. I have learned the hard way that these bulbs love a sunny , well-drained, yet moist location, with average soil. One year we planted them in several shady spots, only to have them gradually deteriorate to the point of no return. You can leave them in the ground to naturalize, if that is the ef- fect you wish to have. A single corm of a large colchicum hybrid can easily multiply to cover nearly 900 square centimetres of garden. Just imagine what a few well-placed groupings throughout your garden can do. It is best to plant them about 10 cm deep and about 15 to 20 cm apart. They need some room, not only to multiply , but also for the huge foliage which will develop the following spring. These fascinating bulbs can actually bloom indoors simply by leaving them sit- ting on a windowsill. It’s best to put them in a saucer on about two inches of gravel. The flowers won’t last quite as long, nor will they have the same intense colour, but they will bloom and can still be planted outside to grow on for next year. Each year in late April, just as the tulips are nicely in flower, huge masses of strap-like leaves appear and grow to about one foot in height. After two to three weeks, they disappear as suddenly as they arri ved, having provided all the food the bulb needs. Colchicums are quite hardy and do well from zones one through nine. ‘Colchicum speciosus’, which blooms in September and October, is most often a bright violet-pink, while ‘Colchicum album’ is the seldom seen beautiful white variety . Among the hybrids, ‘Lilac Wonder’ is the most popular with its attractive lilac-pink flowers. The double purple blooms of ‘Waterlily’ are unusual and quite beautiful, but its heavy blossoms are often knocked down and spoiled by autumn rains. Colchicums should be planted in areas where they can be naturalized without in- terfering with other plants. Underplanting around flowering shrubs, like white altheas or P.G. hydrangeas, makes a lovely contrast when the bulbs bloom each fall. Another classic combination is to plant them under white snowberries (Symphoricarpos alba) for a great autumn display. Colchicums are only dormant in July and August, so you have to be quick on the draw to get them planted immediately for any kind of show- ing this fall, but they are well worth the effort, believe me. The main bulb supplier for BC has just received their shipment for distribution to garden stores this week, so for this weekend and next week, colchicums should be widely available. I know there are many gardens out there that really need a lift in September and these precious fall crocuses can add that little spark of colour. Think of them as fall messengers reminding us that in spring our gardens will be inundated with colour from their peers. REVIEW H R RE V VIEW W ant a crocus for f all ? It’s a l i ly , really IN THE GARDEN Brian Minter www.tricitynews.com Tri-City News Friday, August 19, 2011, A43 % Dynamic Mortgages KAREN HALL MORTGAGES INC. “A Mortgage Tailored For You...” M M D D 604-936-7740 or www.karenhall.ca REFINANCE REFINANCE TO PAY OFF TO PAY OFF YOUR DEBT! YOUR DEBT! 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Transcript
August is the only timeof year to plant an easy-to-grow giant crocus
that blooms a few weeks later– in September. Fall bloomingcolchicums go by the name of‘Autumn Crocus’, although theyare not really a crocus at all. In fact, theybelong to the lily family and are native to theMediterranean region.
Colchicum bulbs become huge and can,over time, produce 19 to 25 flowers, one rightafter the other, until they all open in a profu-sion of colour. A lady, who used to grow thou-sands in her backyard in Vancouver, told meit takes about two years for a small bulb togrow into a huge specimen, at which pointit splits into four smaller ones. Small bulbswill produce five to seven flowers; mid-sizedbulbs will have about a dozen blooms.
I have learned the hard way that thesebulbs love a sunny, well-drained, yet moistlocation, with average soil. One year weplanted them in several shady spots, onlyto have them gradually deteriorate to thepoint of no return. You can leave them inthe ground to naturalize, if that is the ef-fect you wish to have. A single corm of alarge colchicum hybrid can easily multiplyto cover nearly 900 square centimetres ofgarden. Just imagine what a few well-placedgroupings throughout your garden can do.It is best to plant them about 10 cm deep andabout 15 to 20 cm apart. They need someroom, not only to multiply, but also for thehuge foliage which will develop the followingspring.
These fascinating bulbs can actuallybloom indoors simply by leaving them sit-ting on a windowsill. It’s best to put themin a saucer on about two inches of gravel.The flowers won’t last quite as long, nor willthey have the same intense colour, but theywill bloom and can still be planted outsideto grow on for next year. Each year in lateApril, just as the tulips are nicely in flower,huge masses of strap-like leaves appear andgrow to about one foot in height. After two tothree weeks, they disappear as suddenly asthey arrived, having provided all the food thebulb needs.
Colchicums are quite hardy and do wellfrom zones one through nine. ‘Colchicum
speciosus’, which blooms in September andOctober, is most often a bright violet-pink,while ‘Colchicum album’ is the seldom seenbeautiful white variety. Among the hybrids,‘Lilac Wonder’ is the most popular with itsattractive lilac-pink flowers. The doublepurple blooms of ‘Waterlily’ are unusual andquite beautiful, but its heavy blossoms areoften knocked down and spoiled by autumnrains.
Colchicums should be planted in areaswhere they can be naturalized without in-terfering with other plants. Underplantingaround flowering shrubs, like white altheasor P.G. hydrangeas, makes a lovely contrastwhen the bulbs bloom each fall. Anotherclassic combination is to plant them underwhite snowberries (Symphoricarpos alba)for a great autumn display. Colchicums areonly dormant in July and August, so youhave to be quick on the draw to get themplanted immediately for any kind of show-ing this fall, but they are well worth theeffort, believe me. The main bulb supplierfor BC has just received their shipment fordistribution to garden stores this week, sofor this weekend and next week, colchicumsshould be widely available.
I know there are many gardens out therethat really need a lift in September andthese precious fall crocuses can add thatlittle spark of colour. Think of them as fallmessengers reminding us that in spring ourgardens will be inundated with colour fromtheir peers.
REVIEWHRomeRESVhowcaseVIEWWant a crocus for fall? It’s a lily, reallyIN THE GARDEN Brian Minter
www.tricitynews.com Tri-City News Friday, August 19, 2011, A43
%
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*The developer reserves the right to make modifications to the information contained herein. Photographs and renderings are representational only and may not be accurate. Some conditions and additional requirements within the deposit structure apply. Please see a Grand Central sales representative for details. E.&O.E.
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In the continuing effort to meet the challenge of product improvement, we reserve the right to modify or change plans, specifications or prices without notice. Plans may be reversed depending on lot grading. Renderings are an artist’s conception only and are intended as a general reference only. All dimensions and sizes are approximate. E. & O. E.
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