About
A bulbous perennial to around 1m tall with dark stems bearing glossy green, lance-shaped leaves and heads of orange, purple-veined, bell-shaped flowers topped with a crown of leaf-like bracts.
About the genus
Fritillaria 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 or umbels
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureWell-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing, East-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH7
Plant details
Plant typeBulbs
HabitColumnar upright
FoliageDeciduous
Height1-1.5 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesArchitectural, Cottage and informal garden
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, well-drained soils. 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