# Autumn Crocus (*Colchicum autumnale*)

The Autumn Crocus is a beautiful flower that blooms in the fall. It has lovely purple petals and grows from a bulb underground. These flowers can brighten up gardens when many other plants are done blooming.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate
- **Habitat:** Grasslands

![Autumn Crocus](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Colchicum_autumnale.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Stemonitis, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Colchicum_autumnale.jpg)

## Appearance

The Autumn Crocus has beautiful funnel-shaped flowers, often purple-pink, that emerge directly from the ground in autumn. It distinctly blooms without its leaves, which only appear in spring, making it unique. Its crocus-like appearance belies its separate botanical family.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Liliopsida
- **Order:** Liliales
- **Family:** Colchicaceae
- **Genus:** Colchicum

## Interesting facts

- Called "Naked Ladies" because its flowers emerge directly from the soil without any leaves!
- It's not a 'true' crocus; they belong to completely different plant families!
- Its powerful natural toxin, colchicine, is actually used in some medicines!
- The plant's seeds develop underground for many months before appearing above ground in spring!

## Special abilities

- **Chemical Shield:** Autumn Crocus produces colchicine, a strong toxin that helps it defend against hungry herbivores.
- **Time Traveler Blooms:** Autumn Crocus can separate its flowering in fall from its leaf growth in spring, making it seem to appear out of season.
- **Hidden Power Source:** Autumn Crocus has a deep underground corm that stores energy, allowing it to survive harsh winters and bloom without leaves.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 10-20 cm
- **Spread:** 5-10 cm
- **Flower Size:** 4-7 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late summer to late autumn
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** Deadly
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar and pollen.
- **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed Bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — Important for flower fertilization.
- **Pollinates:** Hoverfly (*Syrphus ribesii*) — Feeds on nectar, aids reproduction.

## Traits

- [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Poisonous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/poisonous): Poisonous organisms produce toxins that can cause harm when ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through contact.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate

Do not touch or eat any flowers without asking an adult first.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Autumn Crocus?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Autumn Crocus?

10-20 cm

### How wide does Autumn Crocus spread?

5-10 cm

### How big are the flowers on Autumn Crocus?

4-7 cm

### When does Autumn Crocus bloom?

Late summer to late autumn

### Is Autumn Crocus edible?

No

### Is Autumn Crocus toxic?

Deadly

### What is Autumn Crocus's lifecycle?

Perennial

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Autumn Crocus: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/autumn-crocus)