About

Meadow saffron is a plant of damp hay meadows and woodland rides and clearings, but is also popular in gardens. It is also known as 'Autumn crocus' or 'Naked ladies'; the latter name stemming from the habit of the flowers appearing without any leaves. Its pink, crocus-like flowers appear in September, but this plant is, in fact, a colchicum - a bulbous plant, but not a true crocus. The leaves appear in the spring and may be confused with Ramsons - a potentially lethal mistake, since all parts of the plant are poisonous. The unimproved grasslands where this beautiful plant grows were typically managed for hay since the poisonous leaves die down prior to harvest.