Fritillaria imperialis L.
Crown Imperial, Imperial Fritillary, Crown on Crown, Royal Crown Flower, Kaiser's Crown
Fritillaria aintabensis, Fritillaria corona-imperialis, Fritillaria imperialis var. imperialis, Imperialis comosa, Imperialis coronata, Imperialis superba, Lilium persicum, Petilium imperiale
Bloom Time: Spring
Fritillaria imperialis is an impressive flowering plant that grows up to 4 feet (1.2 m) tall. Each bulb produces a thick, stout, upright, ramrod-straight flowering stem which rises up to 4 feet (1.2 m) tall. The green stem leaves are lance-shaped, up to 6 inches (15 cm) long, with wavy margins appear in whorls around the lower 1/2 of the stem. Each stem is topped in spring with a crown of orange-red, drooping, bell-shaped flowers topped by a small pineapple-like tuft of leaf-like bracts.
USDA hardiness zone 5a to 8b: from −20 °F (−28.9 °C) to 20 °F (−6.7 °C).
How to Grow and Care
Unusual and hardy, Fritillaria bulbs produce best when planted in moist soil in a sunny to part shade location in the flower bed. Wildflower Fritillaria lilies are an excellent choice for the gardener who wants an out of the ordinary specimen among more common spring-blooming bulbs.
Growing Fritillaria may reach 4 feet (1.2 m) or more in spring. Use wildflower Fritillarias as specimens, in groupings or as an addition to a traditional bulb bed.
Be prepared to plant bulbs as soon as they arrive. Plant larger bulbs with the base about 5 inches (12.5 cm) below the soil surface, while smaller Fritillaria bulbs should be planted about 3 inches (7.5 cm) down. Plant bulbs in well-drained soil and keep it moist until the root system is established.
Fritillaria bulbs resist deer, squirrels and bulb digging rodents and may help protect other bulbs that are favorites of the critters… – See more at: How to Grow and Care for Fritillaria Bulbs.
Subspecies, Varieties, Forms, Cultivars and Hybrids
- Fritillaria imperialis 'Aurora'
- Fritillaria imperialis 'Maxima Lutea'
- Fritillaria imperialis 'Rubra Maxima'
- Back to genus Fritillaria
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