Autumn crocus

About

The Autumn crocus has an unusual life rhythm. In autumn, from August to October, pink-lilac flowers emerge from the ground on mown meadows and pastures without a single leaf — hence the folk names 'winter flower', 'frost flower'. The broad leaves and large seed capsule appear only the following spring.

The flower resembles saffron: six pink or pink-purple, rarely white tepals 4–7 cm long on a long white 'tube' that comes directly from the ground. It is easy to distinguish: the Autumn crocus has six stamens, while saffron has three, and saffrons mainly bloom in spring. In spring, the plant looks like a bunch of three to four broad lanceolate shiny leaves, within which a green capsule is hidden.

All parts of the plant contain colchicine — a potent poison that is not destroyed by drying or boiling. Poisoning manifests within a few hours with vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and can result in death. Most often, people get poisoned in spring when they confuse the leaves of the Autumn crocus with wild garlic (Allium ursinum), which grows in the same moist meadows and forests. In wild garlic, the leaves are solitary, on separate petioles, thinner, and smell of garlic when crushed; in the Autumn crocus, the leaves are without garlic smell, dense, and gathered in a bunch.

In the Carpathians, the Autumn crocus is common in moist meadows and hayfields of the foothills and low mountains. Despite its toxicity, the species is listed in the Red Book of Ukraine with the status 'not evaluated', so collecting and digging it up is prohibited.

Where in the Carpathians

The map shows where naturalists recorded the species (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY records), not every place it lives. The Ukrainian Carpathians are less studied, so a blank area does not mean the species is absent.

Countries

Slovakia · Czechia · Ukraine · Hungary · Romania · Poland · Austria · Serbia

Mountain ranges

Strážov Mountains, White Carpathians, Slovak Central Mountains, Low Tatras, Greater Fatra, Štiavnica Mountains, Lesser Fatra, Slovak Ore Mountains, Kysuce Beskids, Slovak Paradise

Altitude belts

Foothills (below 600 m) · Beech forests (600–1200 m)

When to see it

From naturalists’ observations in the Carpathians (iNaturalist, research grade): the darker the cell, the more often the species is seen that month.

Safety

Deadly poisonous: colchicine is not destroyed by drying or boiling. When collecting wild garlic, crush each leaf — it should smell of garlic. Do not leave the Autumn crocus in a vase where children or animals can reach it. In case of suspected poisoning, call 103 (or 112).

Look-alikes — how to tell them apart

Protection and rules

Despite its toxicity, it is listed in the Red Book of Ukraine (not evaluated). Collecting and digging it up is prohibited.

Admire, don’t pick: plants listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine — and any plants in nature reserves and strictly protected zones of national parks — must not be collected.

Red Data Book of Ukraine

FAQ