Colchicum autumnale Pleniflorum

Colchicum autumnale 'Pleniflorum', also known as Colchicum autumnale 'Roseum Plenum', is a lovely double-flowered form of the famous pink colchicum that blooms late in the season. Its fully bloomed flowers resemble a pink water lily. They emerge from the ground in September, while the foliage is absent. The large, light green, wide and lanceolate leaves develop in spring and dry out in early summer, during the bulb's dormancy period. It is a very hardy and robust bulbous plant that easily naturalises in a flowery meadow or a large border. It thrives in full sun, in fertile, rather moist, clayey soils. It is beautiful in containers.

Colchicum autumnale 'Pleniflorum' is a natural mutation of the autumn crocus or meadow saffron native to temperate Europe. The autumn crocus, with its simple pink flowers, is found in moist meadows. It is a perennial plant with a storage organ called a corm. It belongs to the Colchicaceae family. Although its flowers resemble those of crocuses, colchicum has 6 stamens instead of 3 like the latter, which belong to the Iridaceae family. A corm is a swollen stem covered with scales, unlike a bulb, which is formed of thickened scales like in lilies or garlic. At maturity, the 'Pleniflorum' form reaches a height of 15 to 20cm (6 to 8in). The foliage emerges in spring, in the form of 5 or 8 large, smooth, light green leaves, wrapped around a very short stem. They measure up to 40cm (16in) in length and 5 to 6cm (2in) in width. In the centre of the leaves, one or more large elongated fruits are borne on the central stem. The leaves disappear in early summer, marking the corm's entry into a period of rest. The flowering usually takes place in September, with each 'bulb' producing 1 to 6 large double flowers that are 10cm (4in) tall and 8cm (3in) wide. They are composed of numerous pink tepals that gradually open into stars. The fruits, when ripe, split open to release round, black seeds. All parts of the colchicum are toxic.

Colchicum autumnale 'Pleniflorum' is a somewhat nostalgic plant that heralds the arrival of autumn. It can be used in rockeries, under large deciduous trees, and in natural lawns that will not be mowed before summer. Pair it with crocuses and grape hyacinths, and create ephemeral pots with its bulbs. It thrives better in mountainous or continental climates, with pronounced winters and humid springs.