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Bulbous perennial of the Colchicaceae family, this species is native to the Caucasus, northern Iran, and northeastern Turkey, where it grows in subalpine meadows, forest clearings, and cool grassy slopes, generally between 1,500 and 3,000 meters in altitude. It thrives in deep, cool to moderately moist soils, rich in humus, often in partial shade under the edges of deciduous forests.
It is one of the most robust and spectacular species of the genus. Its flowers, among the largest of all colchicums, reach 20 to 25 cm in height and display broad, fleshy tepals of bright pink-purple to intense magenta pink, with a very clear white throat that contrasts with the color of the tepals — an immediately recognizable distinctive feature. The corms are large. The spring foliage is broad, upright, a bright and shiny green, and can exceed 30 cm in height.
In its natural habitat, flowering extends from September to October. In cultivation, it generally occurs in September. Several selected cultivars have been derived from it, including the famous 'Album' with pure white flowers. Like all species of the genus, the plant is toxic.
In cultivation, it shows remarkable adaptability, accepting both full sun and partial shade, in any well-drained soil that does not dry out in summer. Its vigor and the generosity of its flowering make it one of the reliable choices of the genus for gardens in temperate regions.