Colchicum autumnale, autumn crocus, naked ladies

Colchicum autumnale, autumn crocus, naked ladies - whatever we call them

We have two clumps of autumn crocuses and they are a very pretty lilac-pink colour.

I was googling to see what the real name is and find they are deadly poisonous which worries me as we have very young great-grandchildren visiting now and again and they love to pick flowers.

I am wondering if I should get rid of them and if so, what to do with them. Would it be ok to put them in our garden waste bin or would they pollute all the compost?





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If it were me, I'd dig them up and put them on ebay. I don't think it'd be a good idea to put them in the compost though. Maybe freecycle them, but make sure whoever picks them up knows they're poisonous?

 

Hi Jjordie. They won't pollute compost at all! BUT: I would like to make a plea for you to leave the autumn crocus and enjoy them if possible!
SO many plants are poisonous if you eat them. I know that some people have eaten leaves mistaking them for wild garlic...goodness knows how, when you consider the smell of wild garlic? If babies and toddlers are supervised whilst out in the garden, you can teach them that they mustn't pull up or eat anything growing. Older children can be taught what/where they can pick fruit etc.

If your great grand children are actually with you 24/7 then I realise that depending on their age, you might not want to risk killing them off!

If you dig them up, they're not dangerous to handle at all. Just don't eat them!

Even picking the flowers wouldn't be deadly. I suppose it's a sensible precaution to advise against picking them though, or washing hands well afterwards.

 

P.S. I sound like a real no nonsense hard case don't I?! I'm honestly not. When our four children were little, I loved looking round the garden with them, but they just learnt that they mustn't pull off anything and that if they did eat leaves or flowers, it would give them tummy ache and might even kill them. They weren't allowed to open the gate and go on a main road either. (Same principle!)
I wouldn't grow Aconitum, (Monks hood) or anything really poisonous to touch.

 

The toxins in them are resistant to drying and boiling, can also be passed on in Moo Moo milk if they've grazed on them.

 

Try as we might we never managed to poison any of our children or grandchildren and we have had a garden full of poisonous plants for the last 40 odd years.
Colchicum flowers are not that poisonous and the leaves do not appear until Spring. It is the bulbs which are rather toxic, but unless you are going to allow your toddlers to dig them up there should be no problems.
As said teach the little darlings what they can and cannot do in the garden.

 

The wife may like some in a pie.

 

Tut Tut! hans that's not very nice

 

Thanks Palustris - that's what I wanted to know


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Been doing some research and the number of poisonings from Colchicum leaves is in the single figures and all confined to adults who ate the leaves thinking they were wild garlic. Have to say in many ways anyone who eats wild garlic deserves what they get, but how one could mistake the unscented leaves of Colchicum for the disgustingly scented leaves of Ransoms is beyond me. I could not find any instances of children being poisoned.

 

I agree with all of the above and also thought it was the actual bulb that was toxic if eaten not the actual flowers. Do bear with them and educate as suggested. The benefits of the flowers in a months or so time will surely be worth it.

If you think about it, how many local authorities use Crocus in their planting schemes without any warning signs? Like the number of poisonings mentioned above, the ones that don't probably run into tens too.

I suppose as gardeners, most of us began our interest wondering with granny round her garden during our school holidays when our parents were at work so i suppose it's your time now to pass on the experience and begin a new generation.

Besides, I've just sunk about 500 of them into my front and back garden last week. I didn't wash my hands straight afterwards and I'm still here.

 

Hi Scorpio
You must have a fair size garden to plant all those bulbs and they should make a lovely display when they grow.

Our crocuses have been on flower for nearly a couple of months and I am amazed how they have survived torrential rain and strong winds when the flowers look so delicate.
As you can see in my pics below they are still very colourful.

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Oh they do look nice don't they? Mine are all Blue. I just like blues in the garden.