Colchicum
Also called meadow saffron or autumn crocus
(Colchicum autumnale)

Soil: Average
Light: Full or partial sun

In the fall, colchicums burst forth with a profusion of five- to nine-inch flower stalks that bloom until cold weather forces them to become dormant again.  They are available in both single- and double-flowered varieties.  Try them in flower beds or rock gardens, and under shrubs.  For a natural look, try them in a lawn or under trees in a wooded setting.

Comments
No special planting needs: dig a hole and cover corms with fine soil.  Colchicums start growing in midwinter, slowly sending up their coarse, grass-like foliage while other plants are still dormant.  Later, as the weather warms up, the foliage thickens and continues to grow until early July, when hot summer weather makes the plants go dormant.