Fritillaria meleagris
In early spring this lovely little bulb is flowering the same time as the daffodils bring an extra dimension to the garden. Its pendent bell-shaped flowers are so different from the daffodil. Even more so are the purple coloured flowers rather than the white flowered variety.
It is an excellent, sought after small bulb for the home garden and great for smaller gardens or damp corners.
Growing easily in early spring from white small round bulbs the strong thin stems grow quickly with narrow long almost grass like green leaves growing from the base and along the stem. Quickly the flowers form at the top of the stem but in a nodding fashion. It seems the white flowered form grows the earlies by about 2 -3 weeks followed by the more original chequered patterned bell shaped flowers of the purple shaded forms. The flower is up to 60mm long held on stems about 150-400mm high.
The normal from is purplish coloured with a chequered pattern on the petals (sepals) Inside the bell is light green and the anthers are yellow.
It has an interesting story as well. Described by botanists as a native of Europe and Western Asia (an awfully large area) it is now considered rare and endangered in many of these countries only being found commonly cultivated in home gardens. It is the Official Flower of the Uppland Province of Sweden where it is known as the Lily of the Kings Meadow. In Croatia it is associated with the national symbol of that country.
In the UK there is debate as to whether or not it is a native plant. It was described by Botanist and Herbalist John Gerard of London in the 16th century but was officially named by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. The generic name Fritillaria comes from the Latin word fritillus, meaning dice box (which were formerly chequered), in reference to the chequered markings on the flowers. The specific epithet meleagris likens it to a 'spotted guinea fowl'.
The earliest written records of Fritillarias in the Western world date from 16 Century when mentioned illustrated in Stirpa Adversaria Nova by Matthew l’Obel. They were introduced into the gardens of the Emperor and nobility of Venice in 1576.
The debate is whether it is a native plant or a garden escape and there may be no definitive answer to this. It was known to be abundant in the Thames Valley where flowers were collected from the wild and sold in the markets as cut flowers. In world War 11 these areas were cultivated for food production destroying many of these large areas where it grew. It is still found in ancient meadows and patches and nature reserves but it has not spread back out into the cultivated fields.
People of Ducklington in Oxfordshire today still hold a "Fritillary Sunday" festival and it is the County flower of Oxfordshire.
Its common names include snake's head fritillary, snake's head, chess flower, frog-cup, guinea-hen flower, guinea flower, leper lily Lazarus bell, chequered lily, chequered daffodil, drooping tulip or simply fritillary.
Growing easily in early spring from white small round bulbs the strong thin stems grow quickly with narrow long almost grass like green leaves growing from the base and along the stem. Quickly the flowers form at the top of the stem but in a nodding fashion. It seems the white flowered form grows the earlies by about 2 -3 weeks followed by the more original chequered patterned bell shaped flowers of the purple shaded forms. The flower is up to 60mm long held on stems about 150-400mm high.
The normal from is purplish coloured with a chequered pattern on the petals (sepals) Inside the bell is light green and the anthers are yellow.
The white form Fritillaria meleagris var.unicolor.subvar alba is self-fertile providing all white plants when grown from seed. There are other named forms offered for sale or exchange.
Once flowered the nodding stem gradually turns to face upwards carrying a small round seed head which eventually matures on the stem held vertically by the strong stem. The light coloured seed is easily gathered or will fall to the ground and germinate. It loves a light shady area with moisture.
There are many other species and named varieties of Fritillaria and once bitten by the bug many people collect the different species and belong to various societies where there may be some specialisation.
The Fritillaria Group http://www.fritillaria.org.uk/ is a group in the Alpine Garden Society of UK and this website is worth reading.
Most are relatively easy to grow.
More photos can be seen on my Pinterest site Fritillaria meleagris
It is an excellent, sought after small bulb for the home garden and great for smaller gardens or damp corners.
Growing easily in early spring from white small round bulbs the strong thin stems grow quickly with narrow long almost grass like green leaves growing from the base and along the stem. Quickly the flowers form at the top of the stem but in a nodding fashion. It seems the white flowered form grows the earlies by about 2 -3 weeks followed by the more original chequered patterned bell shaped flowers of the purple shaded forms. The flower is up to 60mm long held on stems about 150-400mm high.
The normal from is purplish coloured with a chequered pattern on the petals (sepals) Inside the bell is light green and the anthers are yellow.
It has an interesting story as well. Described by botanists as a native of Europe and Western Asia (an awfully large area) it is now considered rare and endangered in many of these countries only being found commonly cultivated in home gardens. It is the Official Flower of the Uppland Province of Sweden where it is known as the Lily of the Kings Meadow. In Croatia it is associated with the national symbol of that country.
In the UK there is debate as to whether or not it is a native plant. It was described by Botanist and Herbalist John Gerard of London in the 16th century but was officially named by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. The generic name Fritillaria comes from the Latin word fritillus, meaning dice box (which were formerly chequered), in reference to the chequered markings on the flowers. The specific epithet meleagris likens it to a 'spotted guinea fowl'.
The earliest written records of Fritillarias in the Western world date from 16 Century when mentioned illustrated in Stirpa Adversaria Nova by Matthew l’Obel. They were introduced into the gardens of the Emperor and nobility of Venice in 1576.
The debate is whether it is a native plant or a garden escape and there may be no definitive answer to this. It was known to be abundant in the Thames Valley where flowers were collected from the wild and sold in the markets as cut flowers. In world War 11 these areas were cultivated for food production destroying many of these large areas where it grew. It is still found in ancient meadows and patches and nature reserves but it has not spread back out into the cultivated fields.
People of Ducklington in Oxfordshire today still hold a "Fritillary Sunday" festival and it is the County flower of Oxfordshire.
Its common names include snake's head fritillary, snake's head, chess flower, frog-cup, guinea-hen flower, guinea flower, leper lily Lazarus bell, chequered lily, chequered daffodil, drooping tulip or simply fritillary.
Growing easily in early spring from white small round bulbs the strong thin stems grow quickly with narrow long almost grass like green leaves growing from the base and along the stem. Quickly the flowers form at the top of the stem but in a nodding fashion. It seems the white flowered form grows the earlies by about 2 -3 weeks followed by the more original chequered patterned bell shaped flowers of the purple shaded forms. The flower is up to 60mm long held on stems about 150-400mm high.
The normal from is purplish coloured with a chequered pattern on the petals (sepals) Inside the bell is light green and the anthers are yellow.
The white form Fritillaria meleagris var.unicolor.subvar alba is self-fertile providing all white plants when grown from seed. There are other named forms offered for sale or exchange.
Once flowered the nodding stem gradually turns to face upwards carrying a small round seed head which eventually matures on the stem held vertically by the strong stem. The light coloured seed is easily gathered or will fall to the ground and germinate. It loves a light shady area with moisture.
There are many other species and named varieties of Fritillaria and once bitten by the bug many people collect the different species and belong to various societies where there may be some specialisation.
The Fritillaria Group http://www.fritillaria.org.uk/ is a group in the Alpine Garden Society of UK and this website is worth reading.
Most are relatively easy to grow.
More photos can be seen on my Pinterest site Fritillaria meleagris