Fritillaries

Fritillaries are an amazing group of colourful and flamboyant spring flowering bulbs from the Lily family.  Few varieties of bulbs can match the diverse range of size and form, from the tall majestic stems of Fritillaria imperialis to the more delicate native Fritillaria meleagris (Snakeshead Fritillary) with its distinctive chequered bell shaped flowers and not forgetting the range of alpine fritillaries such as Fritillaria pudica.

Fritillaries have many uses and depending on the species can be found in cottage or informal gardens, flower borders, rock gardens, wildflower gardens or planted in drifts under shrubs and naturalized in grasses. Success with these plants, as with most, is dependent on selecting the variety best suited to the soil and situation.  Growing conditions can vary dramatically from damp shady meadows to sunny, humus rich free draining borders.

History

There are 100-150 species of fritillaria, originating from the temperate regions of Europe, the Pyrenees, Himalayas, Cyprus, Turkey, Iraq and Iran.  However the only fritillary native to Great Britain is fritillaria meleagris and it is now quite rare to see it growing in the wild due to the changing land usage and the loss of many of the meadowlands in this country.

During winter and early spring low lying land near rivers would have been deliberately flooded to enrich the surrounding soil.  When the water subsided the minerals and nutrients would feed many traditional meadow plants including fritillaries.  But now these areas have been drained for agriculture, gravel extraction and development leaving only a few protected sites such as the meadow of Magdalen College, Oxford, the village of Duckington, Oxfordshire (which holds a Fritillary Sunday festival) and the North Meadow National Nature Reserve, in Wiltshire. New varieties came to Britain in the second half of the sixteenth century, such as F. imperialis and F. michailovskyi. 

The name fritillaria comes from the latin ‘fritillus’ which roughly translated means a ‘dice box’.  This refers to the checked markings found on many of the species, especially Fritillaria meleagris which is suggestive of a wicker woven dicing box or a dice board.
 

These remarkable plants have, in the past, inspired writers, poets and artists such as the painting by Vincent van Gogh, ‘Crown Imperial Fritillaries in copper’, a poem by Anne Ridler ‘Snakeshead Fritillaries’ and even Oscar Wilde included fritillaries in his poem ‘Panthea’

“On sunless days in winter, we shall know
By whom the silver gossamer is spun,
Who paints the diapered fritillaries, 
On what wide wings from shivering pine to pine the eagle flies”

Oscar Wilde 1854-1900

This reference by Oscar Wilde refers to the diapered fritillaries, “diapered” is an old traditional term for either a checkered pattern or the pattern known as ‘harlequin’ or a checkerboard of diamonds.

Propagation

Fritillaries can either be grown from fresh bulbs or raised from seed and although growing the seeds is a relatively easy process, it can take several years to produce flowers. 

Seeds can be bought from many outlets or collected from existing plants in June/July. If using seeds, sow in pots and place in a cold frame in autumn, the seeds need exposure to the cold of winter for germination in spring, but not the frosts. Some seeds can take up to a year to germinate but once the seedlings have appeared give them an occasional liquid feed to ensure they do not suffer mineral deficiency.  Keep the seedlings for a further 2 seasons under glass in light shade before planting out in late summer or autumn. Most seedlings, especially the European versions will flower in their third year but Asian and American species take a little longer.

If growing fritillaries from bulbs it is better to buy fresh wet bulbs for planting straight away.  Fritillaries are growing for 10 months of the year and if their roots dry out they will die. It is also possible to divide offsets from existing plants, the smaller bulbs should be potted up and grown on in a cold frame for a year before planting out in autumn.

Once fritillaries are established they will self seed and multiply.

Cultivation

Cultivation of fritillaries is dependant on species although good drainage is common to all varieties and the use of sand and grit with good quality compost is vital for success.  Fritillaries don’t like being disturbed so once planted it is better to leave them in situ for several years. It is also important to handle the bulbs with care as they contain a mild alkaloid poison.  The growing conditions for the main varieties are as follows :

Border plants including F. imperialis  (Crown Imperial), F. persica, F. thunbergii, F. pallidiflora, F. acmopetala – prefer a well drained site in full sun.  Bulbs should be planted 4 times their own depth in rich moist soil and on its side to avoid waterlogging the hollow centre of the bulb.  Sharp sand can also be used to improve the drainage and prevent rotting of the bulb.  If the plant is reluctant to flower feed it with diluted liquid tomato feed at weekly intervals in spring.  Larger varieties like F. imperialis can also be grown in large tubs or barrels and  the smaller species suit rockeries.

Meadow/Grassland plants including F. meleagris (Snakeshead), F. meleagris subvar alba (White Snakeshead), F. camschatcensis, F. cirrhosa – prefer fertile well-drained soil, in shady or part shade locations and benefit from damp summers. Again plant at 4 times their own depth in upright positions to avoid bulb rot.

Cold greenhouses/bullb frame plants including F. graeca, F. michailovskyi, F. pontica, F. Davisii – prefer sharp drainage and shelter from rain and hard frosts.

All varieties should be left for 5-6 weeks after the flowers have faded to allow the seeds to ripen and for the goodness to return to the bulbs for the next year.

Care

Fritillaries are generally hardy and trouble free but can be prone to attack from Slugs and Scarlet Lily beetle.  Rabbits are also very fond of F. melagris and will destroy it if given the opportunity. 

Feeding – mulching annually with well rotted organic material/manure will provide sufficient food for these plants.  On a poor soil applying a fast release granular feed or a fish blood and bone mix, will improve growth and flowering.

Pruning – cut back in early summer once the seeds have ripened and when the foliage has had chance to die back letting the bulb store the goodness ready for the next season.

National collections of Fritillaria are located at  :

Cambridge University Botanic Gardens
Corey Lodge
Bateman Street
Cambs
CB2 1JF

Tel : 01223 336265
Web : www.botanic.cam.ac.uk
Multimap

Kevin Pratt
Alcome
7 Bosden Fold Road
Hazel Grove
Stockport
Cheshire
SK7 4LQ

Tel : 0161 456 9009
Web : www.poppyheadsltd.co.uk

Snakeshead Fritillary can be found growing at RHS Wisley in the alpine meadow and RHS Harlow Carr (near the stream) and in the arboretum and Kew Gardens on a naturalized woodland setting on riverside walk and a stunning display of 215,000 bulbs on Princess Walk.