About
Fritillaria raddeana, Radde's fritillary, is a bulbous perennial to 60 cm tall with alternate, glossy, slender, pale-green leaves to 15 cm long on erect stems. In early spring, greenish-cream or pale-yellow, broadly bell-shaped, nodding flowers are borne in umbels of five or six, occasionally up to twenty, topped with leaf-like bracts. A stately and ornamental species.
About the genus
Fritillaria are bulbous herbaceous perennials with lance-shaped or linear leaves and nodding, bell-shaped or cup-shaped flowers in a wide range of colours � from white and yellow to orange, purple, brown and green, often with chequered or mottled markings. They range from stately crown imperials to delicate alpine species.
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectEast-facing, South-facing, West-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH7
Plant details
Plant typeBulbs
HabitClump forming
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height1 year
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Gravel garden, Rock garden
Native toIran, Turkmenistan, West Himalaya
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 in a range of conditions from fertile well-drained soils in full sun to humus-rich, moisture-retentive soils in full sun or light shade. Handle the fragile bulbs carefully and plant at four times own depth
PruningNo pruning required
PropagationPropagate by division of offsets in late summer; propagate by seed in autumn
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to slugs and lily beetle
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free