About
Fritillaria michailovskyi, the Michailovski fritillary, is a compact, bulbous perennial to around 20 cm tall with lance-shaped, grey-green leaves. In early summer, 1�4 terminal, broadly bell-shaped, nodding flowers to 3 cm long are produced � deep purplish-brown with distinctive, contrasting yellow-tipped petals. One of the most ornamental and distinctive of all the small fritillaries.
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
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureWell-drained
AspectWest-facing, South-facing, North-facing, East-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH5
Plant details
Plant typeBulbs
HabitColumnar upright
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.1-0.5 metres
Spread0-0.1 metre
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesRock garden
Native toE Turkey
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 moderately fertile, very well-drained soils and is intolerant of wet when dormant. Handle the fragile bulbs carefully and plant at four times own depth
PruningNo pruning required
PropagationPropagate by seed, sown in pots in a cold frame in autumn. Needs exposure to winter cold for germination in spring. Divide offsets in late summer
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to slugs and lily beetle
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free