Wild garlic
Extra care neededNever gather mixed leaf clusters. A garlic smell on the hands can mask a mistaken leaf.
Toxic · do not eat
Autumn crocus.
Colchicum autumnale
Also found as Meadow saffron · Naked ladies
A potentially fatal poisonous plant whose spring leaves appear separately from its autumn flowers.
Sources checked 9 September 2026 · Specialist field review pending
Toxic. Keep out of food and tea.
Poison help Colchicine poisoning can be fatal and symptoms may be delayed. Do not wait for illness before seeking help.
Where it grows
Tracked records and known growing zone
- Verified records
- 10,433
- People who recorded it
- 4,602
- Most records (northern hemisphere)
- Aug–Sep
- Records span
- 1976–2026
| January | 2 |
|---|---|
| February | 14 |
| March | 285 |
| April | 897 |
| May | 928 |
| June | 391 |
| July | 171 |
| August | 1765 |
| September | 4593 |
| October | 1283 |
| November | 88 |
| December | 11 |
Research-grade iNaturalist records, snapshot Aug 27, 2026. The growing zone combines areas where different people have repeatedly verified it. Records show where people looked and found it, not current abundance or permission to gather.
01 / Learn to see
Field marks
- 01
Clusters of broad leaves emerge in spring.
- 02
Pink to lilac flowers emerge without leaves later in the year.
- 03
Seasonally separated foliage and flowers make casual identification unreliable.
These are study prompts, not a complete identification key. Confirm the full plant with a regional flora and an experienced local identifier.
02 / Resolve the differences
Look closely. Compare.
Selected comparisons only. Other lookalikes may occur locally.
03 / Meet the place
Habitat & season
Range context
Central and southeastern Europe; also cultivated outside its native range.
Watch the plant stage
Hazard in every season; spring leaves are an important wild-garlic lookalike.
Stage guidance is not a local forecast. Check your climate, elevation and a regional source; no month-shift formula is used here.
04 / Gather with care
Observe. Leave intact.
Never eat, brew or substitute for saffron.
Care for the patch
Do not dig or collect the plant for comparison; use photographs and expert help.
Preparation & storage essentials05 / Follow the evidence
Sources & review
- NC State Extension · Colchicum autumnaleBotanical description, range and documented use
- BfR · Wild garlic confusion and poisoningFatal confusion and delayed poisoning
Checked 9 September 2026. Original editorial synthesis; source institutions have not reviewed or endorsed this guide. Independent botanical field review is pending. Photos illustrate specimens; they do not certify the identity of a plant you find.
Suggest a correction