Fritillaria imperialis
(Crown Imperial)

Family - Liliaceae
Category - Bulb
Origin - Western Himalaya
Year of Introduction - prior to 1590
Season of Interest - Spring
Hardiness - H6
Height - 90cm
Location - The House Border

Description: Bulbous Perennial with bright green leaves in whorls. Pendent, bell-shaped flowers are red, orange, or yellow and are produced in umbels on tall stems in mid-spring. The common name arises from the tuft of spiky Bracts that sits directly above the flowers, resembling a crown. All parts of the plant are malodorous.

Award of Garden Merit (AGM).

Other common name - King's Crown Lily

Flower:

Pendent, bell-shaped flowers in umbels holding up to 8 blooms, range in colour from red, orange or yellow. Flowers are produced at the top of the stem (terminal) in April.

Flower colour: Red, orange or yellow

Flower shape: Bell-shaped flowers in umbels

Flowering time: April

Foliage:

Bright green lanceolate leaves are arranged in whorls up the tall stems. The flowers are crowned with a tuft of spiky Bracts.

Foliage Senescence: Deciduous

Foliage Shape: Lanceolate

Propagation:

Division.

Cultivation:

Best in full sun in fertile, well-drained soil. Resents sitting damp.