Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Bulb or Corm or Tuber
Origin
North America, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Canada
Mediterranean, Turkey
Types
-
Colchicum autumnale
Number of Varieties
2025
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Woodland Garden Canopy
Lawn, meadows, Sunny Edge, Woodland Garden
USDA Hardiness Zone
3-116-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-1
9-1
Sunset Zone
7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
21,22
Habit
Upright/Erect
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
1,830.00 cm7.60 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
8.50 cm7.60 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Tan, Sandy Brown
Fuchsia, Rose
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Sandy Brown
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Yellow, Green
Several shades of Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
oblong or obovate
Long Broad
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
-
Spring, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Medium
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Spring, Spring
Late Summer, Early Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Corms or bulbs, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
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
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
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
Any balanced general purpose fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, fertilize in summer
Pests and Diseases
Blackspot mold
Slugs
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
Insignificant
Showy
Flower Petal Number
-
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Medium
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Matte
-
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Beetles, Birds
Bees, Butterflies
Allergy
Miscarriage, Rash
poisonous if ingested, Toxic if not prepared properly
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Beautification, Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Beautiful Skin, Heals Damaged Hair, Strong, beautiful hair
Removes pimples
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Demulcent, Diuretic, Expectorant, Nutritive
Arthritis, Gout, Itching
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Inner Bark, Leaves
Bulbs, Flowers, Seeds
Other Uses
Chewed as a thirst quencher, Tea-like beverage can be brewed, Used as a thickener in soups, Used to make a twine
Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Shade Trees
Alpine, Container, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall
Botanical Name
ULMUS rubra
Colchicum autumnale
Common Name
Slippery Elm
Autumn Crocus, meadow saffron, naked lady
In Hindi
Slippery Elm
शरद ऋतु का पौधा
In German
Rotulme
Herbstzeitlose
In French
Slippery Elm
colchique d'automne
In Spanish
olmo resbaladizo
cólquico
In Greek
Slippery Elm
φθινόπωρο κρόκος
In Portuguese
Slippery Elm
aftomn gema
In Polish
Slippery Elm
aftomn żółtka
In Latin
Lubricus Elm
aftomn vitellus
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Liliopsida
Order
Urticales
Liliales
Family
Ulmaceae
Liliaceae
Genus
Ulmus
Colchicum
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Monocots
Tribe
-
Colchiceae
Subfamily
-
-
Number of Species
20160
1
27800
👆🏻