Colchicum automnale Waterlily
Colchicum automnale Waterlily
Colchicum automnale Waterlily
Colchicum automnale Waterlily
Colchicum automnale Waterlily
Colchicum automnale Waterlily
Colchicum automnale Waterlily
Colchicum automnale Waterlily
Colchicum x automnale Waterlily
Meadow Saffron, Autumn crocus
The bulbs arrived in good condition and were planted quickly following Promesses de fleurs' advice. I'm waiting for the results.
Pierre, 31/08/2025
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Description
Colchicum 'Waterlily' is an old horticultural hybrid dating back to 1928 that still captivates with its large, intensely double and silky waterlily-like flowers in a beautiful lilac-pink colour. They emerge directly from the ground, enhanced by the softer light of late summer, while the foliage is absent. The foliage develops in spring and dries up in early summer, signalling that the bulb is entering dormancy. A true treasure for rock gardens, this colchicum works wonders in a lawn or flower bed, and its extraordinary waterlily-like flowers are long-lasting in a vase. It is a wonderful perennial plant, awarded in England for its ornamental qualities and performance in the garden.
Colchicum 'Waterlily' is a cross between C. autumnale 'Alboplenum' and C. speciosum 'Album'. Its first ancestor is native to temperate Europe and occurs naturally in damp meadows. The second thrives in subalpine meadows and scree slopes in the mountains of the Caucasus, northern Turkey, and Iran, up to an altitude of 3000m (9842ft).
'Waterlily' is a perennial plant with a storage organ called a corm. It belongs to the Colchicaceae family. Although its flowers resemble those of crocuses, colchicum has 6 stamens instead of 3 like crocuses, which belong to the Iridaceae family. A corm is a swollen stem covered with scales. A bulb, however, is formed by thickened scales like in lilies or garlic. At maturity, the plant reaches a height of 12cm (5in) for the foliage. The foliage emerges in spring, in the form of 3 or 4 large, smooth, light green leaves, wrapped around a short stem. They measure up to 25cm (10in) in length and 4 to 5cm (2in) in width. They disappear in early summer, marking the onset of dormancy for the corm. The flowering takes place in September-October, with each 'bulb' producing 1 to 6 huge flowers, 12cm (5in) tall and 15cm (6in) wide. They are composed of 20 satin-textured tepals, which are pink with a hint of mauve, gradually opening like a waterlily.
Colchicum 'Waterlily' is one of the most beautiful. It is a somewhat nostalgic plant that heralds the arrival of autumn. It can be used in rock gardens, in light woodlands, in natural lawns alongside crocuses and muscari, in ephemeral containers, and autumn bouquets. It thrives better in mountainous, well-watered climates with distinct winters. All parts of the plant are toxic. It is rarely bothered by common garden predators.
Colchicum automnale Waterlily in pictures
Plant habit
Flowering
Foliage
Safety measures
Botanical data
Colchicum
x automnale
Waterlily
Colchicaceae
Meadow Saffron, Autumn crocus
Cultivar or hybrid
ingestion
Cette plante est toxique si elle est ingérée volontairement ou involontairement.
Ne la plantez pas là où de jeunes enfants peuvent évoluer, et lavez-vous les mains après l'avoir manipulée.
Pensez à conserver l'étiquette de la plante, à la photographier ou à noter son nom, afin de faciliter le travail des professionnels de santé.
Davantage d'informations sur https://plantes-risque.info
Planting and care
Plant Colchicum 'Waterlily' hybrids in full sun or partial shade (light shade in the afternoon) in deep, fertile and well-drained but not overly dry soil. Extremely hot and dry climates in summer are not suitable for them and they appreciate cold winters. They tolerate clayey and slightly chalky soils very well. Plant them 15cm (6in) deep. Space the corms 10 to 15cm (4 to 6in) apart. They will establish quickly and multiply spontaneously. Plant colchicums in July-August so that they can bloom in the first year of planting. After planting, leave them in place as they do not like to be disturbed. Colchicums will bloom during October, sometimes as early as the second half of September depending on the climate. After flowering, they go dormant until spring and their leaves will unfold in May and disappear completely in June.
Planting period
Intended location
Care
Planting & care advice
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Hardiness is the lowest winter temperature a plant can endure without suffering serious damage or even dying. However, hardiness is affected by location (a sheltered area, such as a patio), protection (winter cover) and soil type (hardiness is improved by well-drained soil).
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In temperate climates, pruning of spring-flowering shrubs (forsythia, spireas, etc.) should be done just after flowering.
Pruning of summer-flowering shrubs (Indian Lilac, Perovskia, etc.) can be done in winter or spring.
In cold regions as well as with frost-sensitive plants, avoid pruning too early when severe frosts may still occur.
The harvesting period indicated on our website applies to countries and regions in USDA zone 8 (France, England, Ireland, the Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...) fruit and vegetable harvests are likely to be delayed by 3-4 weeks.
In warmer areas (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), harvesting will probably take place earlier, depending on weather conditions.
The sowing periods indicated on our website apply to countries and regions within USDA Zone 8 (France, UK, Ireland, Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...), delay any outdoor sowing by 3-4 weeks, or sow under glass.
In warmer climes (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), bring outdoor sowing forward by a few weeks.
The planting period indicated on our website applies to regions in USDA Zone 9a (East Coast and Midlands: Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny, Portlaoise). It will vary depending on where you live:
- On the west coast and in the north-west (Galway, Limerick, Sligo, Donegal, Westport), delay planting by 1 to 2 weeks in spring and bring it forward by 1 to 2 weeks in autumn compared to the dates given, preferably choosing periods without strong winds.
- In the inland hills and plateaus (Wicklow Mountains, Macgillycuddy’s Reeks, Connemara, Killarney), it is best to plant in spring (April–May) or autumn (September–October), avoiding periods of waterlogged soil in winter and strong winds, which pose the main risk to newly planted trees in these areas.
The flowering period indicated on our website applies to regions in USDA Zone 9a, such as the East Coast and Midlands, including Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny and Portlaoise.
This will vary depending on where you live:
- On the west coast and in the northwest (Galway, Limerick, Sligo, Donegal and Westport), it will be delayed by one to two weeks compared to the given dates, due to stronger Atlantic winds and less spring sunshine.
- In the inland hills and plateaus (the Wicklow Mountains, the Macgillycuddy's Reeks, Connemara and Killarney), flowering will be delayed by two to three weeks. Flowering mainly occurs between May and July, with the limiting factors being less frost and more of the excessive humidity, strong winds and lack of sunshine that are characteristic of these areas.