What’s in Bloom

Fall blooms are unique and can be subtle.

Colchicum byzantium

The autumn blooming crocus, Colchicum byzantium, are a fall specialty with its delicate pink to lavender bloom bursting out of the ground. We have a small group of these in a corner of the North End, mostly seen and admired by the local residents. It’s worth the treasure hunt to see them during their brief show. Unlike many other bulbs, these are planted in the spring, when their foliage comes up and then fades by mid-summer, filling bare ground in September with funnel shaped flowers and yellow anthers.

Colchicum byzantium

Other fall show-offs are the anemones, or Wind Flowers. The dark pink Anemone x hybrida ‘ Pamina’ and double white Anemone x hybrida ‘Whirlwind ‘ are still punching out flower power in the Fort Point Channel Parks, especially along Pearl Street. Pamina is shorter than some anemones, not requiring any staking and standing up well in windy sights. Anemone Whirlwind is graceful and substantial at the same time; filling a sizeable planting drift with ease and providing a solid visual anchor in our beds. Both will thrive in full sun though appreciate some light shade for part of the day.

Anemone x hybrida ‘Pamina’

In the North End Boxwood beds there are at least 3 varieties of Anemone, including the Grapeleaf Anemone,  Anemone tomentosa ‘Robustissima’, and Anemone x hybrida Queen Charlotte. Queen Charlotte has a wonderful double flower, looking very much like taller, airier version of Whirlwind with silvery blue pink blossoms, wiry stems and intriguing, tight-packed buds.

Anemone x ‘Whirlwind’

Anemone x hybrida ‘Queen Charlotte’