Getting it to bloom

Why won't my Showy Autumn Crocus bloom? (and how to make it flower)

Also called Showy Meadow Saffron, Persian Meadow Saffron (Colchicum speciosum).

More about showy autumn crocus

About Showy Autumn Crocus

Colchicum speciosum · also called Showy Meadow Saffron, Persian Meadow Saffron · flowering

Showy Autumn Crocus is the largest and most vigorous Colchicum species, producing goblet-shaped rose-pink to purple flowers in autumn well before its large, strap-like leaves emerge in spring. Native to the Caucasus and Turkey, it naturalises freely in grass. Like all Colchicum, all parts are extremely toxic to pets and humans.

Plant type: flowering

Watch for — Botrytis on flowers: Grey mould disfigures blooms in wet, cold autumns; plant in a sheltered, airy spot and remove affected flowers promptly.

The reasons showy autumn crocus isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming showy autumn crocus traces back to one of these, roughly in order of how common they are:

Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
Too much nitrogen feed, driving lush foliage at the expense of flowers (very common with general or lawn feeds).
The plant has not been deadheaded, so it stops flowering once it sets seed.
Irregular watering — drought or waterlogging at the budding stage makes buds abort.
It is still too young or was checked by a transplant and is rebuilding before flowering.

Feeding showy autumn crocus a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.

The fix — how to get showy autumn crocus to flower

Maximise sun. Give showy autumn crocus the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers.
Switch the feed. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
Deadhead regularly. Remove spent flowers often to keep it producing more rather than stopping to set seed.
Water consistently. Keep moisture even through budding and flowering — drought-then-flood swings make buds drop.

Light and feeding do most of the heavy lifting here. Dial in the spot with the light guide for showy autumn crocus and get the feeding right with the showy autumn crocus fertilising schedule — the wrong feed (too much nitrogen) is one of the most common silent reasons a healthy plant makes leaves instead of flowers.

Bloom season and what to expect

Showy Autumn Crocus flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.

Post-bloom care so it flowers again

Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.

For everything else this plant needs day to day, see the full showy autumn crocus care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Showy Autumn Crocus blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my showy autumn crocus flower?

Showy Autumn Crocus blooms on the season's growth given enough sun, warmth and the right feed — there is no cold or photoperiod trick, just good growing conditions and a bloom-leaning feed. The most common reason it is not happening: Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.

How do I make showy autumn crocus bloom?

Give showy autumn crocus the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.

When does showy autumn crocus normally bloom?