Just when we think it’s time to put our garden tools away for the year, we see lots of new flowers emerging. Blooming season isn’t over quite yet! Yes, there are a few bulbs that, when planted in the fall, bloom right away. In fact, there are some that will bloom no matter where you leave them—on your workbench, kitchen windowsill, in the trunk of your car, or in the box in which they arrived at your house! Some are determined to grow, no matter what.
Fall-Blooming Colchicum Bulbs
Let us introduce you to the Colchicum
(KOL-cheh-kum). This marvelous bulb is in the Colchicaceae family, which means it is pest-proof. It certainly isn’t shy—it blooms on naked stems!
Their leaves wait to emerge until the following spring, which is when they “recharge their bloomin’ batteries” for the next autumn display. Their flowers resemble a large Crocus, but their bulbs look different.
Normally, the Colchicum bulb is much larger and heavier than a Crocus bulb, which is one reason why they are more expensive—they take up a lot more room in the field and in the bulb crate. However, since they’re pest-proof, Colchicums are an investment in the future of your garden!
Colchicum flowers that are not doubled have six petals per flower, just like the Daffodil. The available colors are shades of lavender, pink, and white. Above, on the left, Colchicum autumnale ‘Album’ features creamy white flowers. Double flowered-types have many petals per stem seen above here on the right—the very popular cultivar, ‘Waterlily.’ Like Daffodils, Colchicums don’t all bloom at the same time in the fall; some bloom quickly, some bloom much later in the fall, and others at various times in between. They prefer good, well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. We love the excitement and joy they bring to our fall gardens!
Fall Blooming Crocus Bulbs
Another spectacular fall-planted, fall-blooming bulb is the fall Crocus. They look like spring Crocus but are genetically programmed to begin blooming in fall instead of spring. They have similar requirements—well-drained soil and full sun or partial shade. Although fall Crocus are not as appetizing to animals as Tulips tend to be, they are not fully pest-proof like the Colchicums. Using Plantskydd will help protect your flowers from hungry critters roaming the garden.
Fall Crocus are suitable for planting in groups of ten, like Crocus laevigatus ‘Fontenayi’ below on the left, or for mass planting all around an Azalea like Crocus speciosus ‘Albus’ below on the right. However you choose to display them, they are a wonderful addition to the fall garden and our local pollinators adore them!
Crocus sativus is probably the most popular fall-blooming bulb—not just because it is eye-catching and beautiful, but because the red stamens are “unharvested Saffron!”
Saffron is an incredibly fragrant, flavorful delicacy—the most expensive spice in the world.
One of our friends planted Crocus sativus last fall and harvested the saffron, putting some in small glass bottles and giving them away as special Christmas Gifts. She added a note explaining how easy it was to do, planting them in pots to bring inside for harvesting the saffron when their red stamens were dry. We’re busy shipping bulbs in the fall, so spare time isn’t exactly in high supply, but we’re going to try planting some Crocus this fall, too!
Fall-Blooming Sternbergia Bulbs
Sternbergia, the yellow flower seen in these images, looks exactly like a yellow Crocus, but is a completely different type of flower bulb altogether. It is a member of the Amaryllidaceae family, like Daffodils, which makes it pest-proof. It is also genetically programmed to bloom in the fall, just like Lycoris radiata, the red flower blooming naked (with no leaves) with Sternbergia on the right. Nutrient-rich, well-drained soil, and full-sun to partial shade are what helps Sternbergia thrive.
Sometimes at the end of a very hot summer without enough rain—or possibly too much rain—having the garden season end can be a relief! Just when we begin to feel ready for things to wrap up for the season, seeing those fall bulbs pop up and bloom almost overnight brings so much joy and a huge surge of energy. Becky says their visual surprise each fall often makes her feel 10 years younger!
Order your fall-blooming bulbs now! There’s still plenty of time to get them in the ground, for one last flush of color before the snow arrives. Browse our fall-planted bulb catalogue and take a look at our web exclusives to see what’s available now.
