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Native
British Meadow
Saffron Bulbs
Latin:
Colchicum
autumnale
Other
Names:
Autumn
Crocus, Naked Ladies.
Distribution:
It is
rare in the wild and confined to meadowland around Southern and Central
England.
Habitat: Moist
meadowland.
Description: Perennial.
It is a medium
plant (up to 25cm), with
lilac-pink flowers from September
to October.
Wildlife:
A
good source of
nectar and pollen for bees late in the season.
Other
Notes:
The
name is misleading as it is neither a Crocus nor produces saffron; it is
a lily.
The foliage follows flowering in September giving rise to it's folk name
of 'Naked Ladies'. The leaves are poisonous to farm stock, so in
some areas of the countryside it is still regularly removed from fields
about to be grazed.
Planting
Instructions for Bulbs:
Plant with about 10cm of soil above the bulb.
Plant
the bulbs as soon as they are received.
Once in flower, we will wait until the flowers finish and foliage is
developing, before sending the bulbs out.
These
bulbs were grown in
Britain
from
cultivated stock.
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