Crown Imperials Fritillaria imperialis

Crown Imperial Fritillary is a perennial, 3 to 4 foot tall, flowering bulb that is native to Western Asia and part of the Middle East and typically found in the wild on rocky slopes and hummus rich soils. The plant is very ornamental and produces fragrant orange and yellow blooms in spring. The foliage is also attractive and fragrant, but dies back by early summer as the plant goes dormant. The fragrance is said by some to smell of garlic, others feel it is closer to a fox and the odour is said to repel other wildlife. The genus name is from the Latin word for a dice box and refers to the checkerboard pattern on the petals of another species, F. meleagris. The species name of this plant refers to the plant's circle of flowers, similar to an emperor's crown .

Crown Imperial Fritillary are easy to grow in fertile, well-drained soil in a sunny site. It does well in heavy soil or dry soil and, once the fragile bulbs are planted, they should be left undisturbed. Once established, the plant is drought tolerant. Bulbs are cold hardy and should be planted in the fall in an area that retains moisture throughout the year, about 9 to 12 inches apart, 1 per square foot, to a depth of 6 inches to base of the bulb. Plant the bulbs on their sides to keep water from the stem hole, a situation that could cause bulb rot. Bulbs appreciate a good winter mulch.

Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:

As noted, the plant can become a victim of bulb rot. The plants are also susceptible to leaf spot, rust and mosaic virus.