COLCHICUM Waterlily. Autumn Crocus.

Colchicum Waterlily – Spectacular Autumn-Flowering Bulb

Colchicum Waterlily is a breathtaking addition to the autumn garden, producing luxurious, fully double lavender-pink flowers with an elegant water-lily shape. Often known as the autumn-flowering crocus, Naked Ladies or Meadow Saffron, this exceptional bulb provides valuable late-season colour when many summer flowers are beginning to fade.

Fully Double Lavender-Pink Blooms

Each flower is packed with more than twenty petals, creating a beautifully full and rounded display. Established bulbs can produce an impressive number of flowers, making Colchicum Waterlily bulbs particularly effective when planted in groups. They can naturalise readily in suitable conditions, returning year after year. Flowering generally begins from September onwards. The flowers appear before the foliage, creating the distinctive appearance that gives colchicums their popular nickname, Naked Ladies. Large, tulip-like leaves follow in spring, allowing the bulb to replenish its reserves for future flowering.

Easy to Grow and Ideal for Naturalising

Plant Colchicum Waterlily bulbs 8–10cm deep in rich, well-drained soil, preferably in light shade. They are versatile enough for borders, lawns, beneath deciduous trees and naturalised planting schemes. The bulbs may also be flowered indoors without soil or water on a sunny windowsill before being planted outdoors once flowering has finished.

Flowering period: September onwards

Flower colour: Lavender-pink

Flower form: Fully double, water-lily shaped

Planting depth: 8–10cm

Position: Light shade

Soil: Rich, well-drained soil

Naturalising: Yes

RHS Award: Award of Garden Merit (AGM)

Pack size: 3 bulbs

Bulb size: 24+

Growing; Handling Warning Colchicums have a remarkably short dormant period, so bulbs may arrive with pale shoots or flowers already emerging. If they arrive in flower, enjoy them on a sunny windowsill and plant outdoors once flowering has faded. Always wear gloves when handling colchicum bulbs. All parts of the plant are highly toxic if ingested.

Delivery from mid-August with FREE UK delivery. Bulbs are supplied from cultivated stocks and are visually checked before packing. Images show mature plants in full bloom and are for illustration only. Bulbs may require a season to establish.

For more seasonal colour, explore our product-category/autumn-flowering-bulbs