Colchicum montanum

Bulbous perennial of the Colchicaceae family, this species is native to southwestern Europe and northern Morocco. It is found in the Iberian Peninsula, in the Pyrenees, and more sporadically in other mountain ranges of the western Mediterranean basin. It grows on rocky grasslands, stabilized scree, and grassy slopes at altitude, generally between 1,000 and 2,500 meters. It favors well-drained, calcareous or siliceous substrates, in sunny exposure, and withstands severe climatic conditions, notably prolonged summer drought.

It is one of the most modest species of the genus in size: the plant hardly exceeds 8 to 12 cm in height, and its flowers, small and delicate, are pale lilac-pink to bright pink, with narrow and pointed tepals, which clearly distinguishes it from the large cultivated species. The corms are small, and each plant usually produces only one to three flowers per season. The foliage, narrow and slender, appears in the spring following flowering.

In its natural habitat, flowering extends from August to October, depending on altitude and exposure. In cultivation, it generally occurs in September to October. Like the entire genus, the plant is toxic.

In cultivation, it requires perfect drainage, a well-sunny exposure, and poor soil, dry in summer. Its small size and discreet elegance make it an ideal candidate for well-maintained rock gardens and alpine gardens where finesse prevails over abundance.