10 AUTUMN CROCUS Colchicum Autumnale Meadow Saffron Flower Seeds *Comb S/H BLOOM TIME: Sept - Oct . . . COLOR: Purplish Pink HARDINESS ZONE: (4) 5 - 10 PLANT HEIGHT: 6 - 12" . . . PLANT SPACING: 3 - 6" LIGHT REQUIREMENTS: Sun . . . SOIL / WATER: Average - Moist This plant is called Autumn Crocus because it looks just like a crocus & it blooms in autumn. It gets the nick name Naked Lady because its flower spikes appear when there are no leaves on the plant. I have no idea where the 3rd name Mysteria comes from, but it sounds cool so I dont mind. Whatever you choose to call it, Colchicum Autumnale is the most cold hardy of all the Autumn Crocuses. This European native has huge 5-7 by 2-3 wide flowers that are very eye-catching! The plant will develop corms that can be divided every few years. These corms have several medicinal uses including treatments for gout and caner, but all parts of the plant & seeds can be poisonous, so dont experiment on you own. This species is considered an endangered plant in many countries worldwide. Help mother nature by planting these as bedding plants, in borders, or naturalized in meadows, fields, & lawns. They are deer resistant!