BULBS > fritillary
IN THIS GUIDE
FRITILLARY GUIDES
Container grow
If you ’re look for an attractive plant with an telling CV , consider checkered lily .
Boasting lilting lantern - like flowers , fritillaries are tight relate to lilies and have a farseeing history of enjoyment in cosmetic gardening and horticultural context .
They play an undeniably exotic flavour to any garden , and most assortment allude to oriental shapes and themes .
In the class of get this guide I get hold of Dr Robert Wallis , Chairman of The Fritillaria Group .
He divvy up just why these flora are so democratic and well - loved in the UK .
“ The genus Fritillaria contains around 180 unlike species from many different home ground around the man .
“ Most grow in Mediterranean climates at varying altitudes , whilst some are semi - desert industrial plant .
“ Others come from more northern post and adapt well to spirit in [ the ] UK ” .
Though originally hailing from Europe and Asia , British gardeners have been conversant with fritillaries for several hundred years.1Fritillaria meleagris . ( n.d . ) . Kew Royal Botanic Gardens . retrieve March 16 , 2023 , fromhttps://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:535213-1
Looking at the works , it ’s easy to see how they made a adept first impression , and how they ’ve endured hundred of evolving trends and fashions .
Incorporating fritillary into your garden is a style to bring genuine beauty , while giving a nod to their proud cultural and historic background .
Overview
PreferredFull Sun / Partial Shade
ExposureExposed or shelter
Height0.1 – 1 M ( depending on species )
Spread0 – 0.1 M
Bloom TimeApril – May
PreferredChalk , loam , sand
MoistureWell drained to moist , depend on coinage
pHAny
Fritillaria meleagrisis conceive to be the type mintage of the Fritillariagenus , which in non - jargon terms mean that this is the variety most declarative of the coming into court and gadget characteristic of related to plants .
In the image below , you could see the obeisance stem ofF. meleagris – also called snake ’s head – with its iconic flower resemble a bell or lantern .
In most varieties the flowers are solitary , making them all the more visually telling .
The mottling on the petals bid optical pursuit distinct from other flower with unmarried - coloring petals , and this insidious prospect can be used to corking effect when designing flower beds .
“ The specie nameF. meleagrismatches the scientific name of turkeys and guinea fowl , and there is something akin to their feathers in the plant ’s petals , ” adds Master Horticulturist Peter Lickorish .
Fritillary Types
“ There are a few species which are easy in the garden ” , say Robert .
“ Others are more exacting in their requirements and confront various degrees of challenge to grow successfully ” .
For those grow Fritillarias for the first time , Robert suggests : “ start with the easy ( crummy ! ) ones likeF. meleagrisandF. imperialisfor the garden but be aware that Fritillaria is a with child genus and the species have widely differing requirements for successful cultivation ” .
Below we share a choice in particular well - suit to British gardens – each a recipient of the RHS Award of Garden Merit .
Botanical Name : F. genus Meleagris
This species is an easy - to - grow favourite , says Robert : “ Fritillaria meleagrisis a beautiful and easy coinage in the garden . Unlike most species , it revels in moist soil , particularly in a hayfield site . ”
The delicate purple flowers of this variety bewitch the aesthetic and atmosphere you may expect from other varieties : the color and petal convention may exchange between varieties , but the bowing appearance and soft confidence remain .
This smorgasbord enjoy full sun or partial shade and moist , well - run out grease . It is n’t fussy with panorama , picture , soil case , or soil sourness .
Botanical Name : F. pallidiflora
This potpourri boasts creamy bloom , bunched together a bit more tightly than the meleagris , hinting at the varied aesthetic centred on the common fritillary motif .
White and pale flowers are an ever - democratic feature in heyday beds and plant displays , meaning the Siberian plant should be right at home in many contexts .
The preferred get conditions are the same as those forF. meleagris .
Botanical Name : F. imperialis
dogfight of orangey flowers hanging below a cap of green leafage almost impart to beware a Ananas comosus , which is n’t something that can be read about many flowers .
For this reasonableness , F.imperialismakes a offbeat and striking contribution to any outdoor space , peculiarly if you ’re riffing on exotic themes .
The crown imperial like full sun and well - drain grime , alluding to the different conditions favour between Fritillaria varieties .
Botanical Name : F. acmopetala
The petal frond framing a brown purple primal subdivision almost resembles the shape of a model boast a 1960s haircut .
However you comprehend the form and colour of this efflorescence , though , you ca n’t refuse that it shit an attractive addition to any flower arrangement with whites , Brown , orange , or yellow .
This potpourri shares growing preference with the summit imperial beard .
Other favorite rise by Dr. Robert Wallis admit :
How To Grow Fritillaries
favourite grow condition vary across the different types of fritillaria , so verify to jibe the specific requirements of the assortment you ’re plan to grow .
The entropy in the following sections is give as a general template .
In the assortment introduced above , we saw that some ( snake ’s head word and Siberian ) can make do with fond shade or moist grime , while others ( pate royal and pointed - petal ) involve full sunshine and well - debilitate soil .
For this reason , you ’ll need to search the preferences of the variety you ’re project to plant to ensure that each can thrive .
In general , fritillaries are less ill-tempered with soil type and pH than exposure , panorama , wet levels , and hardiness .
On the last point , hardiness ratings in the varieties above range from H4 ( suitable to temperatures of around -10 ° cytosine ) to H7 ( desirable below -20 ° 100 ) .
If you live in particularly cold-blooded parts of the UK , threefold - check mark that your planned checkered lily can handle the expected temperatures .
“ Each yr I really hope to see birds feed in from the ambrosia of the crown majestic fritillary , ” says Peter .
“ It is well documented that small Bronx cheer , such as blue tits , will perch on the stems and lift their heads into the flowers , but I ’m yet to see it . A in effect self-justification to plant more , I hypothecate ! ”
You ’ll require to plant your marvelous crown fritillary bulbs about 30 atomic number 96 below the soil surface , in September or October , whereas lower - growing snake ’s fountainhead bulbs can go in at 5 - 8 cm thick .
The general rule when planting bulbs is to plant them with the point facing up or , if it ’s unclear which minute is the tip , found them on their sides .
They ’ll struggle to grow if planted tip - down .
Fritillary Plant Care
you could feed fritillaries each spring , with a fertiliser that release nutrients tardily – potash is one alternative .
void using plant food high in N , as this contain the peril of further surrounding Gunter Wilhelm Grass to grow , rather than your flowers .
urine well after planting your bulb , as moist filth conditions will promote levelheaded growing .
Fritillaries do n’t need too much watering when in bloom of youth – just be vigilant during especially teetotal periods .
You do n’t need to prune any potpourri of fritillaries – hallelujah ! We told you they were easy to grow .
Your plants will produce ‘ offsets ’ each class , which are child bulbs .
you’re able to dig these up by carefully separating them from the parent bulb .
Either works the offset elsewhere , leave enough space between plants to avoid overcrowding , or give them to a booster to circularise the fritillary beloved .
Common Problems
This flower is n’t prone to any nasty plant disease , which is another check mark in the ‘ easy to uprise ’ boxwood .
Aside from a few sneak gadfly who may attempt to feed on their tempting petals and stems , fritillaries most likely wo n’t encounter many problems .
It feel like we write a slug and snails division in almost every plant fear & growing scout we publish .
These guys are relentless , and their quest to banquet on your lovingly - tended efflorescence is unceasing .
But gratefully , thereare a few ways to keep them at embayment .
fritillary are also prostrate to lily beetle , because of their law of similarity to the flush .
These plague consist their eggs on leaf undersides , which then think of , eject mint of hungry larvae to banquet upon leaves , leaving a trail of unsightly excrement in their wake .
“ Both the grownup and larvae of the striking red Lily Beetle likes to wipe out fritillary leaf ” says Robert .
“ They are best captured and squashed . ”
The first step is to hit beetles and their eggs by script , before they hatch and begin to wreak havoc .
you could also encourage predatorial wildlife to visit your garden , which will eat the beetles and keep their populations in check .
“ Lily beetle will even use up the flowers , so attempt to pull off this pest , ” says Peter .
“ I find cupping a hired hand underneath the shank and knocking them into it discontinue them from pulling off their pet trick of dropping onto soil and lying upside down .
“ If they do this , they become almost invisible . ”
These unfussy and attractive plant are a joy to grow , and will enjoy anyone who step groundwork in your garden .
