Colchicum 2013

[Maggi Young]

Clearly, if there is as much root growth as Mark shows in that photo, then one would not disturb them . Ian made the point at at the stage where there is very little root growth ( even though flowering may have started) that it was possible to do it at that stage.  Depends how fast into roots the plants are- which is why I advised checking!

[mark smyth]

its possible the root growth is later in Scotland. My Colchicums in the garden are mostly over now while yours in the garden are looking great.

[johnralphcarpenter]

Well,at the Great Dixter Plant Fair, the Beth Chatto Nurseries stand was selling Colchicum speciosum 'Album' bare rooted bulbs in bud/flower, so they clearly think they can be moved at this time of year. I bought one, pictured below immediately after planting, so we will see how it does.

[mark smyth]

By bare root I assume you mean dry bulbs? I guess these were bought in from Dutch sellers and wont root until they feel moisture

[Boyed]

Well,at the Great Dixter Plant Fair, the Beth Chatto Nurseries stand was selling Colchicum speciosum 'Album' bare rooted bulbs in bud/flower, so they clearly think they can be moved at this time of year. I bought one, pictured below immediately after planting, so we will see how it does.

This is another case, such bulbs can be even planted after flowering. They root normally and give good harvest the following year.

[johnralphcarpenter]

By bare root I assume you mean dry bulbs? I guess these were bought in from Dutch sellers and wont root until they feel moisture

No, bulbs with roots in a large tray with moist compost around them.

[krisderaeymaeker]

Colchicum parlatoris  .

[mark smyth]

John were the roots broken or just emerging?

[johnralphcarpenter]

John were the roots broken or just emerging?

No, there was a tangled mass of roots which I carefully spread out in a large hole before backfilling. Here it is less than 48 hours after planting. Also Colchicum speciosum looking good in the autumn sunlight, and Colchicum 'Waterlily'.

[johnralphcarpenter]

Does anyone grow/know anything about Colchicum figlalii?

[Maggi Young]

I know nothing apart from it having  a stated distribution in S. W.  Turkey and these links ( none of which lead to anything freely available!) -

Parolly, G., Eren, Ö.  (2007). Colchicum figlalii (Ö. Varol) Parolly & Eren, comb. nov. ≡ Merendera figlalii Ö. Varol in Belg. J. Bot. 138: 89. 2005. [In: Parolly, G. & Eren Ö. (eds.). Contributions to the flora of Turkey. 2.] Willdenowia 37: 267.]

G. Parolly, Ö. Eren (editors), "Contributions to the Flora of Turkey, II", Willdenowia, 243-271 pp., 2007.

Persson, K. (2007). Nomenclatural synopsis of the genus Colchicum (Colchicaceae), with some new species and combinations. Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik 127: 165-242.

[johnralphcarpenter]

Thanks. There is a picture on Wikipedia, it seems to be growing in water.

[Maggi Young]

A dramatic photo- though I doubt it spends much time under such conditions.
I see Henrik Zetterlund shows it growing happily in a pot at Gothenberg Bot. Gdn.:
http://henrikzetterlund.wordpress.com/2013/03/10/hanford-over-hemfort/colchicum-figlalii/

[johnralphcarpenter]

Colchicum bivonae today.

[mark smyth]

For the first time since getting my C. variegatum, 2006, it has more than one flower and bulb