Once your colchicums are established, each corm divides and increases yearly, like daffodils. When clusters of flowers begin to look too congested, divide the plants. If you have existing clusters, divide them just after the flowers die back. Dig up the whole plant a few inches away from the flowers to avoid slicing the corms.

One of the most exciting ways to use these plants is in naturalized or woodland areas. Planting colchicum autumnale in drifts is ideal because these plants will increase several fold in just a few years. This variety is the easiest to find in most garden centers, but you may need to look for other varieties in specialized nurseries.

Try planting them with anemone nemorosa, aubrietia, arabis and lacy ferns. Fern leaf peonies, bleeding hearts and other spring bloomers also are excellent companion choices.

Do not crowd the colchicums, as they need room for the foliage to grow. The syncopated rhythm of the spring and fall bloomers will add to the year-round interest of your gardens.

Recommended varieties of colchicum in Utah

C. Waterlily — The most common colchicum with double pink blooms. The variety is free flowering and easy to grow, but the heavy flowers droop.

C. E A Bowles — This variety features larger cups and is named after a colchicum authority.

C. Attlee — Large single-flowered variety has rosy-pink blooms with large white centers that creep up the inside of the petals.

C. The Giant — Huge lilac-pink cups on sturdy stems; it multiplies quickly in rich soil.

C. Lilac Wonder — Pinkish-lilac flowers.

C. Conquest — Violet flowers.

C. Violet Queen — Purplish-mauve flowers and a white center.

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Larry Sagers is the horticulture specialist for Utah State University Extension at Thanksgiving Point.