Fritillary and top purple are splendid as stand - alone bulbs
You ca n’t missfritillariaplanted in a spring garden . Whether it is the charming check checkered lily or whimsical peak imperial , these two fellow member of theFritillariagenus ( which boasts more than 100 species ) boldly separate themselves from the sea of tulips , hyacinths , and daffodils they blossom among . Crown imperial’sorange , red , or yellow blossomis transcend with a tuft of foliage reminiscent of the leaves atop a pineapple , while checker fritillary and its many relatives mutant sweetly nodding cup - frame flowers on tough green stems . Rarely embed in home base garden , crown regal and fritillary are both easy to arise and deserve a limited place in the spring landscape .
Fritillaria are toxic to human and pets .
Where to Plant Fritillaria
Fritillaria demands full sun and exceptionally well - drained land . Unlike daffodils and tulips that are most eye - pleasing when planted in big drifts of 10 or more , strikingly different checkered lily and crown imperial delay court in the garden solo or with a small mathematical group .
Crown imperial willgive your garden a tropical lookin midspring . The reddened , orangish , or yellow clusters of flower look a small morsel like upside - down tulips , but have strong , spiky leaves growing from the top . Lofty crown imperial place upright 3 to 4 foot tall and twin well singly with the emerging foliage of perennial . establish it in groups of three for a bold focal level .
deserving note : All parts of crown purple smell like polecat , so you may need to position them at the back of the border . The dependable news : This scent repels hungry critters .
Fritillary , also forebode checkered lily , stand about 1 foot improbable and is specially attractive in grassy , naturalize plantings or along a nerve tract where it will hitch the eye of passersby . These plant grow well in moist area , making them a great choice for the edge ofrain gardensand streamside garden . industrial plant fritillary one by one or in groups of three to five .
How and When to Plant Fritillaria
plant life fritillariabulbs in the drop for spring bloom . The bulb have a tendency to dry out quickly so when you purchase them , plant the bulbs as presently as possible .
position fritillary 5 to 6 inches deep and 5 to 6 inches aside in hommos - rich , moist dirt .
Crown regal bulbs have a pocket-size divot at the top ( where the previous year ’s stem develop ) that makes them peculiarly vulnerable to rot in damp soil . Plant these gravid bulbs 6 to 7 inch recondite and 8 to 10 inches aside in the fall — placed sideways to keep water from collecting in the divot . Although big , these bulb are flimsy . So leave them alone once they ’re planted , and mulch them well in anticipation of winter ’s colder temperature .
Fritillaria Care Tips
Just as fritillary and crown imperial differ in their appearance , their care requisite are unequaled , too .
Light
works crown majestic infull sun . The little fritillary grows best in full Lord’s Day but will flower well in part shade — especially if it ’s the dappled shade of a deciduous tree diagram in early spring .
Soil and Water
Fritillary likes a hommos - full-bodied , moist soil . Because it ’s more susceptible to molder induce by wet soil than many other bulbs , crown imperial require sandy soil or a well - drainedrock garden .
During the spring increment period , give fritillaria about an inch of piss per week through rain or irrigation .
Temperature and Humidity
Fritillaria will abide estrus , humidity , and cold atmospheric condition without much bustle . That said , they will take account a 2 - inch bed of mulch in the nightfall to get through the wintertime months .
Fertilizer
Give your bulbs a hike in the give with an app of a balanced fertilizer , travel along by a dilute app in the fall . For the amounts to use , keep abreast mathematical product recording label teaching . summate a one - column inch layer of compost in the downfall before mulching .
Pruning
When bloom have faded , prune them off but allow the foliage to continue grow and lay in energy for next twelvemonth . When the leaf yellow , issue it down to just above dry land level .
Potting and Repotting Fritillaria
Soil needs for growing fritillaria in the ground and in pots are exchangeable . Choose a deep , wide pot and plan to go out the bulb in place since they do n’t like to be disturb . honest drain is crucial – soggy land can cause bulb to molder . When planting in container , use a high - quality potting mix and a pot with passable drain holes . Keep in mind that pot plants , unlike plants in the landscape painting , require more frequent tearing and impregnation .
Despite their hardiness in surface area with cold winters , when grown in pots , fritillaria are exhibit to the frigidity . As a protective measuring , winterise the pots by sinking the container into the earth . you’re able to also set the container in a second , heavy pot to create a planting silo that will isolate the ascendant from the common cold or move the container into an unwarmed shed or service department .
Pests and Problems
Fritillaria are resistant to most common blighter and diseases and , due to their slightly skunky smell , furred critters void them . cerise lily beetle are the only likely encroacher . These bugs eat holes in the plant ’s leave of absence ; they should be removed by hand as direct insecticides are liable to do as much damage to the plant as to the dirt ball .
How to Propagate Fritillaria
Propagate fritillariaby segmentation . Dig up bunch of fritillaria every three to five years and separate the small bulbs from the ripe ones . Replant the mature bulbs in the same localization . implant the immature bulb in a new location but at the same deepness and spacing .
Types of Fritillaria
Crown Imperial
Fritillaria imperialisbears a crew of large orange flower buzzer that hangs from the diadem of tufted foliation on this bluff plant . The blooms appear in midspring . The plant farm 5 feet tall . Zones 5 - 9
Fritillaria michailovskyi
Fritillaria michailovskyilooks like an Easter candy ; the hot chocolate - purple bloom bell are lean in gilded scandalmongering . The plant grows 4 - 8 in magniloquent . zone 4 - 9
Fritillaria pallidiflora
Fritillaria pallidiflorabears gravid , pale white-livered flower bells that unfurl from shiny sorry - green leaves . This natural selection loves moist territory and grow 18 inches grandiloquent . zone 4 - 9
Variegated crown imperial
This variety ofFritillaria imperialis’Aureomarginata ' gain a bluff statement in the spring garden . Its leaves tender yellow boundary and contrast with the tropic - reckon red flowers . It grows 40 inch tall . Zones 5 - 9
Snake’s-head fritillary
Fritillaria meleagrisis much more attractive than its moniker intimate . The flush , check up on bells in maroon or purple and clean , dangle from succulent blue - gray stem in belated spring . The plant grow 8 inches tall . zona 4 - 9
Fritillaria persica
Fritillaria persicais an incredible selection with umber - plum tree - coloring material bells that swing from 4 - foot spindle over blue - green leaves . geographical zone 4 - 9
Yellow crown imperial
This selection ofFritillaria imperialis’Lutea ' offerslemon - yellow bellsthat unfurl and dangle from a crown of tufted foliage . This works grows 40 inch tall . Zones 5 - 9
White snake’s-head fritillary
Fritillaria meleagris albabears white bells that drop from succulent down - grey stems in late give . It grows 8 inch tall . Zones 4 - 9
Fritillaria Companion Plants
Hyacinth
Truehyacinthscome in a range of shades , include blue , royal , flushed , orangish , yellowish , pink , and blank . Their clusters of bright flowers will attract pollinator and also look beautiful planted next to daffodils andtulips . Plus , deer usually do n’t bother hyacinth and squirrel wo n’t munch on your bulbs in the ground . Zones 4 - 9
Grape Hyacinth
Though purplish - disconsolate flowers are most recognizable ongrape hyacinth , you may also find potpourri of this plant that bloom in white and yellow . blossom in midspring , it ’s not a true jacinth ( but does attend like a small version of the other fountain - flower electric-light bulb ) . grapeshot hyacinth does n’t get very tall , soplant it at the front of flower bedsand border . Zones 4 - 8
Daffodil
Happiness , Bob Hope , and renewal are all link with these beautiful flowers . Daffodilsare sturdy flora that take a hop back after snowfalls and some also thrive in the high temperature of the Deep South or West . And once you set daffodil , they’llreturn year after year and even breed .
Extend your spring bulb display by imbed interchangeable - count bulb with unlike bloom times . For example , trythree gold daffodil varieties : ' Arctic Gold , ' which get down in early spring to midspring , ' Primeur , ' which flower in midspring , and ' Pay Day , ' which flower in mid- to late fountain . zone 3 - 8
Frequently Asked Questions
Fritillaria appeal insect , bee , butterflies , and hummingbirds in spring . The full news is that deer run to leave these flowering bulbs alone .
If you live in an orbit that experiences high twist , your fritillaria , particularly marvelous crown imperial beard , will do good from some accompaniment from staking or veiling , Heavy , drive rainfalls can also make for mayhem on these top - heavy plant .
Fritillaria are beautiful flowers in a corsage and have a good vase biography . However , the skunky odor that diffuse this plant may be off - putting to those who are sensitive to it . If you want to include it in an arrangement , put the vase where it leisurely to see but out of cooking stove for your olfactory organ .
dependable and Poisonous Garden Plants . University of California .
