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Post by tigerlily on Sept 15, 2007 23:46:35 GMT
I always thought Crocus flowered in Spring...so why is it that there is a riotous display of lovely lilac-coloured Crocus in the border outside a neighbour's along the lane?
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Post by shemlock on Sept 16, 2007 6:49:18 GMT
I have some of those crocus, they are autumn crocus, as far as I know. Someone else will have their proper name. They have masses of leaves early on the year with no flower, you wonder what you are growing. Then the leaves die back and from nowhere these pretty little flowers appear. Every year they surprise me.
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Post by territalks on Sept 16, 2007 7:32:34 GMT
 Hi Tigerlily They sound lovely! Love TT xxxx
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Post by territalks on Sept 16, 2007 7:33:53 GMT
Hi Shem Yes you are probably right! I have heard of Autumn Crocus. I just seem to have the Spring ones! Love TT xxxx
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Post by Sharon Sharealike on Sept 16, 2007 13:01:26 GMT
I saw some the other day as well. They are quite bigger than normal ones.
I might try and get some of those!
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Post by Fi on Sept 16, 2007 16:44:36 GMT
The autumn crocus, which isn't a crocus, has the latin name of Colchicum autumnale - they are very easy to grow, spread fairly prapidly and lovely addition to any garden in autumn. The flowers can be single or double and come in various shades of mauve through to white. They can be a bit confusing, since the leaves grow in spring, but die back during summer. The flowers then appear - hence one of their common names is 'Naked Ladies'.
However, the saffron crocus Crocus sativus, which is a crocus, also flowers in autumn. It's nowhere near as common as autumn crocuses in the UK, but it does grow here - Saffron Walden got its name from the growing of saffron there in the 16th century. They do flower along with their leaves and are smaller than most, but not all autumn crocuses. The colour range is similar to that of autumn crocuses. Again, they are a pretty addition to the autumn garden as well as being a source of saffron to use in food. They grow and spread much more slowly than autumn crocuses. The one drawback is sourcing bulbs - they are rarely to be found in a local nursery, but can be got through specialist nurseries which can be found with a quick google.
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Post by tigerlily on Sept 16, 2007 17:01:41 GMT
I wondered if there might be such a thing as an Autumn-flowering crocus!
Now I know what Naked Ladies are, too.
Thanks, Fi!
I'll maybe nip out before dark and get a quick photo - it's only a five minute stroll there and back.
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Post by tigerlily on Sept 16, 2007 18:55:32 GMT
Here you are - they are indeed Naked Ladies! (Not that I doubted, of course - I thought there was something odd-looking about them as I wandered past but hadn't figured out what).  My assistant came along for the walk too...   |
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Post by ivy noidea on Sept 16, 2007 19:15:54 GMT
We have lots of them in the gardens at work.
I am so lucky to work at Caversham.
Eric and his team do a fantastic job. |
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Post by shemlock on Sept 16, 2007 21:29:59 GMT
Here you are - they are indeed Naked Ladies! (Not that I doubted, of course - I thought there was something odd-looking about them as I wandered past but hadn't figured out what). [/IMG][/quote] Those are what are growing in my garden, now I know that they are naked ladies I have the urge to cover them up. I can see where they get their name from, because as I said in my earlier post, the leaves come first, die back and then these little magical flowers appear. |
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Post by Fi on Sept 16, 2007 23:01:51 GMT
This image shows a saffron crocus -
The similarities with autumn crocuses are obvious (indeed, a fair few images found by a google search are definitely not saffron crocuses). The foolproof way of telling the two apart is to pick a pistil, rub it between your fingertips and smell. The saffron smell is unmistakable.
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Post by Sharon Sharealike on Sept 17, 2007 8:12:34 GMT
Lovely, Fi! Thanks.
And Lovely pix, Shem - speshly of the Moggie "helping"!
Sharon
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Post by revmichael on Sept 17, 2007 10:12:55 GMT
I have a few of the Colchicum autumnale but their leaves get very, very big when they have finished flowering.
Mine don't much very much of a show though.
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Post by carlott on Sept 17, 2007 11:59:57 GMT
I have a few of the Colchicum autumnale but their leaves get very, very big when they have finished flowering. Mine don't much very much of a show though.  |
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Post by Shuggie on Sept 18, 2007 13:47:33 GMT
I have a few of the Colchicum autumnale but their leaves get very, very big when they have finished flowering. Mine don't much very much of a show though. Age, Carl .. simple as that |
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