About
Fritillaria imperialis 'Lutea', the yellow crown imperial, is a spectacular bulbous perennial to around 90 cm tall with whorls of glossy, pale-green, lance-shaped leaves on erect stems. In late spring, pendant, bright-yellow, bell-shaped flowers are borne in terminal umbels topped with leaf-like bracts. One of the most ornamental of the crown imperial cultivars.
About the genus
Fritillaria, the fritillaries, are bulbous herbaceous perennials with lance-shaped or linear leaves and nodding, bell-shaped or bowl-shaped flowers that may be solitary or in racemes, in a wide range of colours from white and yellow to deep purple. They grow in a range of habitats from meadows to rocky mountain slopes.
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureWell-drained
AspectWest-facing, East-facing, South-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH7
Plant details
Plant typeBulbs
HabitClump forming
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesArchitectural, Cottage and informal garden, City and courtyard gardens
ToxicityOrnamental bulbs, not to be eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Ornamental bulbs, not to be eaten - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Care notes
CultivationGrows well in most fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soils and prefers cool, moist summers. Handle the fragile bulbs carefully and plant at four times own depth. See crown imperial cultivation
PruningNo pruning required
PropagationPropagate by division of offsets in late summer
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to slugs and lily beetle
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free