Colchicum Speciosum

Native to mountainous areas of northern Turkey and other parts of the Caucasus region, this large plant blooms in autumn producing reddish-violet flowers on stems up to twelve inches tall. As with most other varieties, the leaves appear in the spring, before yellowing, withering and dying back as summer progresses. Stronger stemmed, and later than C.autumnale, with taller more richly coloured flowers, it is probably the best of the larger forms, naturalising easily.