Pictorial guide to the flora of the British Isles

Home ⟩ Pictorial Guide ⟩ Colchicaceae ⟩ Colchicum autumnale / meadow saffron

Colchicum autumnale L.

meadow saffron (Colchicaceae)

 SpreadBias within British IslesDirection of bias
WidespreadModerate tendencySE
Plant Atlas 2020
BSBI Distribution Map

Colchicum autumnale is native to meadows and woods in the Welsh Marches and Wessex, and a few sites in Ireland and further north in England, but is also a popular garden plant.

Wienerwald, Austria; 2004-09-19

 meadow saffron / Colchicum autumnale: _Colchicum autumnale_ is native to meadows and woods in the Welsh Marches and Wessex, and a few sites in Ireland and further north in England, but is also a popular garden plant.

Although superficially similar to a crocus such as Crocus tommasinianus, Colchicum autumnale differs in a number of ways, most obviously in having 6, not 3, stamens.

Wienerwald, Austria; 2004-09-19

 meadow saffron / Colchicum autumnale: Although superficially similar to a crocus such as _Crocus tommasinianus_, _Colchicum autumnale_ differs in a number of ways, most obviously in having 6, not 3, stamens.

All images copyright © Christopher J. Dixon unless otherwise indicated.

L-R: Bidens tripartita, Melilotus officinalis, Mimulus guttatus, Thalictrum flavum, Ranunculus peltatus, Anchusa arvensis, Malva alcea, Lolium perenne