Growing Fall-Flowering Crocus and Colchicum These two groups of bulbs are almost like magic. You plant them in late summer, and they bloom within a few weeks. We ship them, along with Bearded Irises, in August, earlier than other fall bulbs, with instructions to plant right away. They're great in the ground or in patio pots---anywhere you want to add jewel-like color for your fall garden. In just weeks, you'll see them poking up through the ground, and before you know it they're in bloom, just when everything else in your garden is almost finished! It's a wonderful finale of color that just won't happen without these beauties.

If you've never planted them before, you'll find the regular 'fall-flowering crocus', including C. sativus,, the saffron crocus, much like spring bloomers (about 4-5 inches tall). Colchicums are different, since every bulb (they're larger than the regular crocus bulbs) produces a whole bouquet of flowers. One Colchicum bulb will send up between 5 and 10 stems, and each one will soon bear a flower.

So plant either or both, and enjoy some brilliant spring color in your garden when you need it the most--in fall!