Colchicum Species Three

Colchicum species S through Z are found on this wiki page


Colchicum Hybrids - Colchicum A-H - Colchicum I-R - Colchicum index


Colchicum sanguicolle Photos by Jane McGary. This species, little known to cultivation, grows in the mountains of southwestern Turkey and is distinguished by the deep red prophyll (sheathing leaf) visible in one of the photos just above the soil surface. It grows among rocks and in short grass, but the largest colonies appear to be in duff just downhill and outside the drip line of large Cedrus libani (cedars). It is a medium-sized colchicum about 10 cm tall in flower.

Colchicum sanguicolle, Jane McGaryColchicum sanguicolle, Jane McGary

Colchicum sibthorpii Many references say this is a synonym for Colchicum bivonae. Photos by Arnold Trachtenberg.

Colchicum sibthorpii, Arnold TrachtenbergColchicum sibthorpii, Arnold Trachtenberg

Colchicum soboliferum see Merendera sobolifera


Colchicum speciosum is a fall blooming popular species native to Turkey and the Caucasus where it is found in meadows and light woodland. Flowers appear long before the leaves with flower color from pinkish purple to deep purple sometimes with a white zone in the throat. Photo by Arnold Trachtenberg.

Colchicum speciosum, Arnold Trachtenberg

A form from Northern Turkey, once considered a species, but now included in Colchicum speciosum, Colchicum bornmuelleri has narrower leaves and purplish anthers. Photos by Janos Agoston of plants grown as C. bornmuelleri.

Colchicum speciosum, Janos AgostonColchicum speciosum, Janos AgostonColchicum speciosum, Janos Agoston

Colchicum speciosum 'Album' has huge pure white goblets tinged green in the throat and gets high praise as possibly one of the best autumn bulbs for the garden. Photos by Mary Sue Ittner of plants growing in a container in a raised bed with Babiana leaves showing. The last picture shows a bee rolling around in the flower.

Colchicum speciosum 'Album', Mary Sue IttnerColchicum speciosum 'Album', Mary Sue IttnerColchicum speciosum 'Album' with bee, Mary Sue Ittner

Colchicum speciosum 'Atrorubens' is richly colored. Photo by Arnold Trachtenberg

Colchicum speciosum 'Atrorubens', Arnold Trachtenberg

Colchicum sp. was thought to be the sterile hybrid Colchicum byzantinum, but is apparently not that species. One guess is that it could be Colchicum cilicicum. These plants do set a few seeds sporadically. It is a strong grower, which multiplies fast with its large oval bulbs. Leaves are very large too, with a well visible pseudostem. Photos by Angelo Porcelli.

Colchicum sp., Angelo PorcelliColchicum sp., closeup, Angelo Porcelli

Colchicum ssp. Photos by John Lonsdale of two unidentified species.

Colchicum sp., John LonsdaleColchicum sp., John Lonsdale

Colchicum szovitsii is a spring-flowering species native to the area of Turkey, Iran, and the Caucasus. Flowers may be pink or white. The first photo from Jane McGary shows a pink form grown from wild-collected seed from Turkey photographed in early February in a bulb frame in Oregon. The last two photos were taken by John Lonsdale.

Colchicum szovitsii, Jane McGaryColchicum szovitsii, John LonsdaleColchicum szovitsii, John Lonsdale

Colchicum szovitsii 'Snow White' Photo by John Lonsdale.

Colchicum szovitsii 'Snow White', John Lonsdale

Colchicum szovitsii 'Tivi' is a white selection found by Janis Ruksans. According to one description this species has dark anthers, but these plants have yellow anthers; nevertheless I am accepting the collectors' identifications for them. Photographed in early February in a bulb frame in Oregon by Jane McGary.

Colchicum szovitsii, Jane McGary

Colchicum szovitsii 'Vardaovit' Photos by Arnold Trachtenberg and John Lonsdale.

Colchicum szovitsii 'Vardaovit', Arnold TrachtenbergColchicum szovitsii 'Vardaovit', John Lonsdale

Colchicum tenorii - is a fall blooming species from Italy. Synonymous with Colchicum tenorei and according to some sources Colchicum cilicicum. Often described as rosy pink, the purple styles are said to distinguish this species from Colchicum cilicicum. First photo by Arnold Trachtenberg, the remainder by David Pilling.

Colchicum tenorii, Arnold TrachtenbergColchicum tenorei, David PillingColchicum tenorei, David Pilling

Colchicum trigynum see Merendera candidissima


Colchicum umbrosum - is a small species from Turkey and Romania with white or pale pink flowers that blooms without leaves. Photos by Arnold Trachtenberg

Colchicum umbrosum, Arnold TrachtenbergColchicum umbrosum, Arnold Trachtenberg

Colchicum variegatum from southern Greece and southwestern Turkey is regarded as a rather tender species. It is distinguished by its very strong tessellation (checkerboard marking) and is the parent of Colchicum × agrippinum, which is hardier. These two photos from Jane McGary show (1) a bulb purchased from a European source and (2) a plant grown from seed purchased from the Archibalds.

Colchicum variegatum, Jane McGaryColchicum variegatum, Jane McGary

Colchicum vernum see Bulbocodium vernum


Colchicum Hybrids - Colchicum A-H - Colchicum I-R - Colchicum index


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Page last modified on January 12, 2013, at 06:38 AM