Colchicums autumn 2007

[Maggi Young]

Kees Jan, we believe the tessellated hybrid to be an old form/hybrid of C. bivonae but we cannot be sure of its name though we have a suspicion of it, so we prefer to call it simply tessellated hybrid !

[mark smyth]

Whatever it is it's great. Here it is again today with sun on it

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Marvelous clump Mark !!
Does this one grow huge leaves after flowering or is it within bounderies ??

[mark smyth]

pass. I really cant remember because in my garden I have lots of bulb leaves in the raised beds - Galanthus, Narcissus, Tulips, Muscari and Iris - that they dont stand out.

[Maggi Young]

Luc, the tessellated hybrid does not have huge leaves... I would say middle- sized. They are quite long but fairly narrow so they need a bit off apce, but not too much      We must have a photo somewhere of the foliage... if I find it , I will post it!
It is a lovely plant, only "fault" is that it has very little scent.

[mark smyth]

Colchicums are scented!? Maggi are you just saying they have no scent?

[Maggi Young]

Quite a few Colchicums are sweetly scented... C. bivonae, for instance, and  several of its forms... this one has little or no scent, which is why we believe it to be a hybrid and also a clue to which old form it might be.

[mark smyth]

OK. When I go  home from work I'll do a smell test with my collection

[mark smyth]

must say hello to Jean while she's looking at the Colchcicums

[mark smyth]

Does anyone know what way to plant Colchicums that have rhizomes?

[Luc Gilgemyn]

thanks Maggi, will have to keep an eye on Ian's next year's surplus list 

[Maggi Young]

Mark: sideways!

[mark smyth]

I suppose I better redo the ones from yesterday.

What about the big ones with a tail or foot?

[Maggi Young]

tails and feet down, otherwise the blood rushes to their heads and makes them dizzy.

[mark smyth]

I checked all mine for scent. Are you sure they are scented? The only one with a smell was byzantinus 'Innocence'