Products › Autumn planted bulbs to flower in the Spring › Fritillaria › Fritillaria imperialis yellow

F. imperialis Yellow is a very good garden plant with up to 6 bell-shaped flowers hanging from a top knot of leaves that tip the stem. It has clear yellow flowers about 2 ½" long, with a faint green veining inside with lush broad leaves held erect on a paler stem. The 'Crown Imperial Lily' has been grown in cultivation in Europe since the 16th century when it was introduced from Turkey. It grows naturally from Turkey through N Persia to Afghanistan, Pakistan and Kashmir, on cliffs, rocky slopes and among scrub. The 'Crown Imperial' is called in Persian 'Tears of Mary', because of the great drops of nectar at the base of each petal. Christian tradition says that of all the flowers, it was the only one that did not bow its head when Jesus was passing to his crucifixion - it has bowed its head and wept ever since. Bees love it. The big bulb should be planted 8" deep in rich soil, which has had fertiliser added, and may not flower the first year. It will also need an annual feed of potash rich fertiliser, one not high in Nitrogen during growth - a proprietary brand for tomato plants would be suitable. The bulbs should not be disturbed until they flower poorly, when they should again be planted 8" deep. They need a dry dormancy in the summer. The bulb and young leaves have a strong foxy smell.

Planting instructions


Plant 8" (20cm) deep in rich soil, which has had fertiliser added, preferably in loam or clay soils. They would benefit from an annual feed of potash rich fertiliser (low in nitrogen) in growth. The bulbs should be planted 8" (20cm)deep, 12" (30cm) apart.  They need a dry position in the summer. April flowering about 30" (75cm) with yellow flowers