If you want perennial bulbs that flower in fall and require no care after planting, autumn-flowering colchicum, crocus, and cyclamen offer lots of beautiful pollinator-friendly options.
Looking for spring flowers? See 20 Flower Bulbs To Plant In Fall.
Autumn-Flowering Bulbs
These three fall-blooming bulb groups offer a variety of flower colors and styles. They are all perennial and naturalize in the garden, meaning they gradually spread and provide flowers year after year.
The selections include colchicum, crocus, and cyclamen.
You will notice they all grow fairly low to the ground, offering some unexpected interest among our traditional fall favorites like native asters (Symphyotrichum), goldenrod, and grasses.
If purple flowers are not your thing you may want to rely on other fall-blooming perennials, although these bulbs do have some white, pink, and yellow varieties as well.
Growing conditions are similar for all these plants and, after planting, they require no care.
Be sure to select sunny sites for colchicums and crocuses to get the most from the flowers. Cyclamens prefer some shade.
Hardiness zones vary so check before you buy.
About “Autumn Crocuses”
There are two different groups of fall-blooming bulbs (corms) that both go by name “autumn crocus”.
The most recognized ones are actually in the colchicum genus and not crocuses at all.
The others are crocus species. I’ve listed lots of examples below.
One quick way to tell the difference is found in the flowers. Colchicums have six stamen in their flowers and crocuses have just three. And colchicums are bigger with some reaching 8 to 12-inches tall while most crocuses tend to be around 4 to 5-inches tall.
If you’re examining the corms, you would also notice distinctly different formations.
But no matter what you choose, all are low-maintenance and autumn-flowering.
Autumn Crocus | Meadow Saffron
Family: Colchicaceae Genus: Colchicum
Colchicum flowers resemble crocuses even though they come from a different plant family. There are approximately 160 species but just a handful are sold for home gardens. Despite the name “Meadow Saffron”, this is not a source of the expensive spice saffron—that’s Crocus sativus.
Autumn-Flowering Colchicum
- Non-native in North America.
- Pollinators include bees, wasps, and flies.
- Plant in summer for fall blooms.
Here are a few notable ones:
- Colchicum autumnale | zones 4 to 9
- Colchicum speciosum | zones 5 to 7
- Colchicum byzantinum | zones 4 to 8 | multiple flowers per bulb
- Colchicum agrippinum | zones 4 to 9 | multiple flowers per bulb
- Colchicum ‘The Giant’ | zones 4 to 9 | grows 8 to 12-inches tall
- Colchicum ‘Violet Queen’ | zones 4 to 8 | purple flowers with distinct orange anthers
Crocus
Family: Iridaceae Genus: Crocus
Autumn-Flowering Crocus
- Non-native in North America.
- Pollinators include bees, moths, beetles.
- Plant in summer for fall blooms.
Here are a few notable ones:
- Crocus sativus (Saffron Crocus) | zones 6 to 9 | source of the spice saffron; can be difficult to get blooms
- Crocus speciosus | zones 4 to 8
- Crocus kotschyanus (Kotschy’s Crocus) formerly known as Crocus zonatus | zones 4 to 9
Cyclamen
Family: Primulaceae Subfamily: Myrsinoideae Genus: Cyclamen
Here in cold climates we think of cyclamen as potted houseplants or summer patio plants but there are cold hardy varieties.
With 23 species of these perennial flowering plants, cyclamen grow from tubers and do best in a woodland or part-shade garden.
Autumn-Flowering Cyclamen
- Non-native in North America.
- Pollinators include hoverflies and other small insects.
- Plant in summer for fall blooms.
Here are a few notable ones:
- Cyclamen purpurascens | zones 6 to 7
- Cyclamen hederifolium | zones 6 to 8
- Cyclamen intaminatum | zones 6 to 8
Look for these bulbs at your favorite local bulb shop. The product label will include recommended planting conditions and timing. Some are available in summer for a limited period of time and require immediate planting.
I’ve also noticed some cyclamen marked as zone 4 and up so you may be able to find something for a colder hardiness zone.
You can also naturalize spring-flowering bulbs in your lawn.
If you are new to planting bulbs, these beginner tips will get you started.
~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛
Wait! Before You Plant…
Be sure any plants you choose:
- Are recommended for your plant hardiness zone and growing conditions.
- Are not invasive in your area.
- Are suitable for your growing conditions including sun, soil, water, and wind.
- Contribute to biodiversity by providing food, nectar, or habitat for wildlife.
- Will not be too big for the space at mature size.
You can read more ecological gardening tips here.