The flowers are solitary, 4–7 cm (2–3 in) across, with six tepals and six stamens with orange anthers and three white styles.

[10] C. autumnale is the only species of its family native to Great Britain and Ireland,[11][10] with notable populations under the stewardship of the County Wildlife Trusts.

It also occurs across mainland Europe from Portugal to Ukraine, and is reportedly naturalised in Sweden, European Russia, and New Zealand.

[citation needed] Colchicum is lethally toxic due to its colchicine content and the leaves have been mistaken by foragers for those of Allium ursinum (ramsons or wild garlic), which they vaguely resemble.

The corms of meadow saffron contain the highest level of toxins, but all parts of the plant are regarded as poisonous.