Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Bulb or Corm or Tuber
Origin
Eastern Africa, Middle Africa
Mediterranean, Turkey
Types
Kigelia africana
Colchicum autumnale
Number of Varieties
925
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Riverine forest, wooded grassland
Lawn, meadows, Sunny Edge, Woodland Garden
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-126-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
9-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 12, 13, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
21,22
Habit
Arching/Fountain-shaped
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
1,220.00 cm7.60 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
910.00 cm7.60 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Dark Red, Tan
Fuchsia, Rose
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Tan
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Dark Green
Several shades of Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Pinnate
Long Broad
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Late Summer, Early Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Corms or bulbs, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Needs a lot of water initially
Do Not over Water, Keep the ground moist but not water-logged
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Cut or pinch the stems, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead flowers, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Balanced liquid fertilizer monthly
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, fertilize in summer
Pests and Diseases
Leaf spot, Mealybugs, Rust
Slugs
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
-
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Bees, Butterflies
Allergy
Poisonous when unripe
poisonous if ingested, Toxic if not prepared properly
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Beautification, Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Acne, Slow downs aging
Removes pimples
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Gynaecological, Malaria, STDs
Arthritis, Gout, Itching
Part of Plant Used
Dried seeds, Leaves
Bulbs, Flowers, Seeds
Other Uses
Used to flavour beer, Used to produce a red dye
Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Tropical
Alpine, Container, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall
Botanical Name
KIGELIA africana
Colchicum autumnale
Common Name
Sausage Tree
Autumn Crocus, meadow saffron, naked lady
In Hindi
Sausage Tree
शरद ऋतु का पौधा
In German
Sausage Tree
Herbstzeitlose
In French
saucisse Arbre
colchique d'automne
In Spanish
Árbol de salchicha
cólquico
In Greek
λουκάνικο δέντρο
φθινόπωρο κρόκος
In Portuguese
Árvore de salsicha
aftomn gema
In Polish
kiełbasa Drzewo
aftomn żółtka
In Latin
farciminis ligno
aftomn vitellus
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Liliopsida
Order
Lamiales
Liliales
Family
Bignoniaceae
Liliaceae
Genus
Kaempferia
Colchicum
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Monocots
Tribe
Tecomeae
Colchiceae
Subfamily
-
-
Number of Species
9160
1
27800
👆🏻