(Synonym 'Harlequin') A delightfully distinctive Colchicum, 'Harlekijn' offers incurled triangular petals of soft lavender and ivory that untwist as they open, revealing an eye-catching golden heart. Very free-flowering in mid- to late fall, they are one of the last flower displays of the season, and they more than repay the gardener with their unique appeal.
Colchicum is often called Autumn Crocus because of its bloomtime and groundhugging habit, but it reaches 10 to 12 inches high in flower -- far taller than most Crocus -- and has a more delicate appearance. 'Harlekijn' offers long, slender pale green stems from which the blooms show to best effect, turning their faces to the sun. This is a flower best in dappled sunlight to partial shade, planted in large groups in the border or dotted among groundcover Thymus, Ajuga, and Vinca.
'Harlekijn' is unpalatable to deer and quite adaptable once established, though it blooms best in enriched, well-drained soil. When its blooms are fully open they form a lovely 6-pointed star, absolutely stunning. And when spring arrives, their large, Hosta-like foliage appears, remaining until the hot summer weather to store nutrients for the autumn blooms to come. A welcome and always unexpected presence in the garden, two seasons a year!
Plant these corms about 1 to 2 inches deep, and once the plant is established, do not transplant unless absolutely necessary. 'Harlekijn' will even flower in a dish of pebbles and water, without any soil, but it lives longer and fares best in your rich garden soil! Zones 4-8.
