Colchicums are charming and interesting plants, 
hardy, persistent and of easy culture. 
These great crocus-like flowers carpet the ground in 
September and October without foliage and at a time 
when the herbaceous beds begin to lose their freshness. 
To the casual eye they look like long tubed crocuses, 
but Colchicums are of the lily family and have six sta¬ 
mens while crocuses have but three. 
They ore most effective when grown in masses and 
with ground covers of low growing perennials such as 
Arabis, Sedums and Phlox Subulata. 
They may be placed between taller growing plants in 
the rock garden, in flower borders and in the wild 
garden. 
In very worm climates partial shade is preferable, 
otherwise they succeed best in on open sunny border. 
The blossoms seem fragile but are quite tough and 
last exceedingly well when cut for the house. In the 
garden the individual flowers last about three days. 
depending on the weather, being able to stand light 
frosty morning better than hot sunny days. Five to six¬ 
teen blooms come in succession from a single bulb, 
giving a reasonably long flowering period. 
In congenial surroundings Colchicums will increase 
so that every few years replanting is desirable. Then 
they should be lifted when the foliage dies down—end 
of June or early July—separated and replanted. Their 
foliage appears very early in the spring and grows 
vigorously until June. 
Plant Colchicums as soon as the bulbs can be ob¬ 
tained and are received. Planted in August or Septem¬ 
ber, the bulbs will bloom almost immediately, but are at 
their best when well established. Deep, well enriched, 
good loamy soil is preferred with the tip of the long bulb 
placed 1 to 2 inches under the surface. If no ground 
cover is planted give a light mulch over winter. 
As the bulbs and foliage ore distasteful to animals, 
mice, moles and rabbits do not bother them. 
Flowering Without Soil 
or Water 
A most interesting feat of Colchi¬ 
cums is their ability to flower from 
dry bulbs without soil or water. 
This makes them valuable novelty 
gifts for friends and most fascinat¬ 
ing for shut-ins to watch develop. 
The flat based, clean bulbs may 
be set on a table, on the window 
sill or in a container. where they 
will start flowering. As the blooms 
fade and drop, cut them off and 
others will follow in quick succes¬ 
sion. 
In the dark the flowers and tubes 
come an attractive pure white. 
On the window sill with plenty of 
light they have their normal color 
—less color appearing the farther 
the bulbs are from the light. The 
skins of the bulbs are dry and 
tough which often must be broken 
to allow the buds to appear. 
For late orders we hold stocks of 
bulbs in cool storage. 
Speciosum (1). Handsome, large, 
bowl-shaped flowers hoisted on 
tall slender tubes. The color, which 
hints of raspberries, is bright rosy- 
carmine. Very floriferous as well as fragrant and with petals 
of great substance. One of the earliest to flower. Unlike other 
varieties, Speciosum does not have a flat base and must be 
held in a container when used for indoor flowering. 3 for 
$1.00, $3.25 doz., $25.00 per 100, postpaid. 
Bommulleri (1). An early variety with immense vase-like 
flowers of rich rose-lilac with large pure white center. On 
first opening the flower is very pale, almost white, but in¬ 
creases and deepens with maturity. It is very striking and 
attractive, and has a light spring-like fragrance. 4 for $1.25, 
$3.50 doz., $26.00 per 100, postpaid. 
Colchicum 
Collection No. 16 
• 
Speciosum 
Bommulleri 
Byzontinum 
Autumn ale 
Giganteum 
1 each of 5 kinds, 
5 bulbs.$1.75 
2 each of 5 kinds, 
10 bulbs. 3.00 
5 each of 5 kinds, 
25 bulbs. 6.00 
Separately labeled—postpaid. 
Autumnale (3) (Illustrated). Is the 
commonest and best known of the 
Colchicums. Exceedingly free flow¬ 
ering, and while the soft rose-lilac 
blooms are not as large as other 
varieties, the bulbs sends up flower 
after flower in seemingly endless 
succession. One of the best for 
naturilizing. 4 for $1.00, $2.60 doz., 
$17.25 per 100, postpaid. 
Conquest (3). One of the finest new 
hybrids. Award of Merit, Haarlem. 
Large flower on long tubes is dark violet, of good substance 
and free flowering. 2 for $1, $5.50 doz., $40 per 100, postpaid. 
Giganteum (3). A grand species bearing immense expanded 
flowers of beautiful soft rose with large white throat, remark¬ 
ably handsome, giving the scent of honey. 2 for $1.00, $5.00 
per doz., $36.00 per 100, postpaid. 
Lilac Wonder (3). A fine new hybrid, large flowered Colchi¬ 
cum of rich rosy-carmine. A very striking variety of great 
merit. The long white tube makes it excellent for cutting. First 
Class Certificate, Haarlem. One of the best and highly recom¬ 
mended. 2 for $1.00, $5.50 doz., $40.00 per 100, postpaid. 
AUTUMNALE 
Byzantinum (2) (Autumnale Major). Very beautiful soft rose- 
colored star-shaped flowers, perfect in form, produced in great 
profusion. 4 for $1.00, $2.60 doz., $17.25 per 100, postpaid. 
Violet Queen (3). Another fine new hybrid of darkest color, 
deep purplish-violet with white center. An extra fine variety. 
F. C. C., Haarlem. 2 for $1.00, $5.50 doz., $40 per 100, postpaid. 
SWEENEY. STRAUB a DIMM, HORTICULTURAL PRINTERS, PORTLAND. ORE. 
38G 
BULB GROWERS 
TACOMA 
WASH INCTQN 
