How do you care for autumn crocus?
Grow autumn crocus in moist but free-draining soil in dappled shade. Plant the corms in August for flowers in September and October. There’s no need to prune autumn crocus, so simply let them die down naturally. Propagate from offsets in summer. This flower typically blooms in late summer to fall, providing late-season beauty. In some cultures, the Autumn Crocus symbolizes a new beginning or transition.
What is the autumn crocus used for?
Autumn crocus is a plant. The seed, bulb, leaves, and flower are used to make medicine. But all parts of the plant are considered toxic. Despite serious safety concerns, autumn crocus is used for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), gout, and an inherited fever disorder called familial Mediterranean fever. Is autumn crocus the same as saffron? No. Autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale) is toxic, while saffron crocus (Crocus sativus) is safe and produces edible saffron threads.The common garden plant autumn crocus contains colchicine and its derivatives. Colchicine poisoning causes abdominal cramps and diarrhea within hours. Several days later, multiorgan failure, pancytopenia, and cardiovascular collapse occur. Severe colchicine poisoning is associated with high mortality.Autumn Crocus Despite it’s common name, Colchicum autumnale is not a true crocus. In fact, Colchicum and Crocus are not even in the same family. It’s also sometimes called meadow saffron, although it’s not the source of culinary saffron. Oh, the confusion caused by common names!Colchicine is one of the oldest remedies still in use today. It is derived from the bulb-like corms of the Colchicum autumnale plant, also known as autumn crocus. Its history as an herbal remedy for joint pain goes back at least to the 1500 BCE Egyptian manuscript, the Ebers Papyrus (Figure 1).
What is special about the crocus flower?
The crocus has been known throughout recorded history, mainly as the source of saffron. Saffron is obtained from the dried stigma of Crocus sativus, an autumn-blooming species. It is valued as a spice and dyestuff, and is one of the most expensive spices in the world. Saffron is harvested from the saffron crocus, scientific name Crocus sativus. This is a different plant entirely from the autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale), also known somewhat confusingly as meadow saffron. Do double-check that you are buying the right one, as autumn crocuses are poisonous.The biblical crocus was also called the crocus saffron, or the meadow saffron. It is a bulbed flowering plant that was able to bloom in very challenging conditions, such as cold temperatures, dry soil, and barren land.