LITMIR.BIZ

      Crocus-shaped flowers emerge directly from the ground at the end of summer, disappearing completely after blooming. In spring, glossy foliage appears and forms a bold clump, with seed heads carried at the base of the leaf. Flower colours are typically lilac or mauve, with pale petal bases, but C. speciosum ‘Album’ has soft white flowers.

      Soil preference: Any free-draining

      Aspect: Sun or part shade

      Season of interest: Late summer, early autumn

      Height and spread: Flowers to 20cm (8in), foliage 45cm (1ft 6in)

      Companion plants: One to site where the coarse spring leaves will not be troublesome. Lovely naturalized in grass or in a border with softly coloured late perennials including aster and Sedum spectabile and dainty flowered hardy fuchsias.

       Amaryllis belladonna

      Belladonna Lily, Jersey Lily Near hardy bulb

      Thick stems emerge naked from the ground in early autumn rapidly extending until the plump buds at their ends have opened to reveal a cluster of large pink flowers with white centres. The strap-like leaves follow in spring and summer. Bulbs flower best when congested and when baked in summer sun.

      Soil preference: Free-draining

      Aspect: Sun, very hot and dry

      Season of interest: Autumn

      Height and spread: 60cm × 15cm (2ft × 6in)

      Companion plants: The flowers come as a delightful surprise, in autumn and are beautiful among Mediterranean shrubs such as French lavenders and silver, feathery artemisias.

       Crocus speciosus

      True Autumn Crocus Hardy corm-bearing perennial

      Slender, wineglass-shaped flowers emerge, without foliage, in autumn, followed, in late winter, by the grassy leaves. The violet blue flowers are marked with darker pencil veining and have showy, orange stigmas. Slow to establish but superb in large numbers.

      Soil preference: Any free-draining

      Aspect: Sun

      Season of interest: Autumn

      Height and spread: 12.5cm × 10cm (5in × 4in)

      Companion plants: Not a showy plant, except when grown in bold drifts, preferably in short grass, or among autumn flowering cyclamen such as C. hederifolium or C. cilicium. See also Crocuses.

       Cyclamen hederifolium

      Sowbread Hardy tuberous perennial

      Loaf-like tubers lie just beneath the surface of the ground. From them come masses of pink or white flowers, each with five petals swept right back to give the typical cyclamen shape. Some races are sweetly scented. From late autumn the flowers are joined by decoratively marbled leaves which persist through winter until the end of spring.

      Soil preference: Any, but not wet

      Aspect: Any

      Season of interest: Autumn, winter, spring

      Height and spread: 15cm × 30cm (6in × 1ft)

      Companion plants: An essential part of any wild or woodland garden, going well both with autumn colchicums and with spring primroses and other bulbs. The leaves are lovely with Anemone blanda popping up among them.

       Leucojum autumnale

      Autumn Snowflake Hardy bulb

      Thin, dusky green foliage emerges in winter, looking like dusty grass. In early autumn, the tiny, fragrant, pinktinged-white, nodding flowers are hard to see as individuals but are beautiful when grown in drifts. A native of Spain and North West Africa.

      Soil preference: Dry

      Aspect: Sun

      Season of interest: Autumn

      Height and spread: 15cm × 10cm (6in × 4in)

      Companion plants: Not spectacular, but charming if colonies are allowed to bulk up among such rock garden plants as alpine pinks, auriculas and Lithodora.

       Nerine bowdenii

      Guernsey Lily, Spider Lily Hardy bulb

      A South African native which produces stems carrying umbels of brilliant pink flowers, whose petals are curled outwards and crisped or crinkled at their edges. The leaves follow in late winter and spring. Bulbs flower best when congested and when warmed by hot summer sun.

      Soil preference: Any well-drained

      Aspect: Sun

      Season of interest: Autumn

      Height and spread: 60cm ×

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