About

An upright, bulbous perennial, to 1m tall, with narrowly lance-shaped, grey-green leaves and spikes of greenish-white, nodding, bell-like flowers in late spring.

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, East-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH4

Plant details

Plant typeBulbs
HabitClump forming
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0-0.1 metre
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Patio and container plants
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 best in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun
PruningNo pruning required
PropagationPropagate by division of offsets in late summer
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to slugs and lily beetle
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free