Autumn crocus

Colchicum autumnale

Not saffron. Contains colchicine. Included so it is not harvested as saffron.

GROW → HARVEST → EAT → DRY → POWDER → CAPSULE → GUMMY — forms are not equivalent. Food first.

Identity

NameAutumn crocus

Scientific nameColchicum autumnale

FamilyColchicaceae

Typeidentification / safety

Climate / zones4–8 ornamental

LightSun to part shade

What it is

Not saffron. Contains colchicine. Included so it is not harvested as saffron.

Identification

Large crocus-like autumn flowers, often without leaves at bloom; leaves in spring. Not Crocus sativus.

Edible portions

Safety Not treated as food on this site.

Growing

Climate. 4–8 ornamental
Light. Sun to part shade
Soil. Average
Planting. Ornamental corm. Not a spice.
Harvest. Do not harvest for food.

Safety

Toxic. Not saffron. Do not put it in rice.

Next steps

Grow it How we treat evidence Food vs supplement

Sources

USDA PLANTS Database — taxonomy and range (verify current entries)
No USDA FoodData Central nutrient profile is attached here. That is not a claim that the plant contains no nutrients.
State cooperative extension growing guides — verify for your region

Honest incompleteness is preferred to fabricated completeness. If a section is missing, no record for it is attached here — not a claim that the plant lacks that characteristic, and not that it was omitted as a secret.

Internal quality class B. Good foundation: enough unique information to exist as its own destination.