Botanical name
Fritillaria meleagris
Other names
Snake's head fritillary, Guinea flower, Snake heads, Guinea-hen flower, Drooping tulip, Leper lily, Chequered daffodil, Chequered lily
Genus
Species
- meleagris- F. meleagris is a small bulbous perennial with narrow -grey-green leaves and delicate, nodding, bell-shaped flowers that have purple and pink markings resembling a chess-board in spring.
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Erect
COLOUR
Flower
Pink, Variegated, Purple in Spring
Foliage
Green in Summer
HOW TO CARE
Watch out for
Specific pests
Diseases
Generally disease-free.
General care
Propagation methods
Division, Seed
WHERE TO GROW
Fritillaria meleagris (Snake's head fritillary) will reach a height of 0.5m and a spread of 0.1m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Beds and borders, Cottage/Informal, Gravel, Low Maintenance, Naturalised in turf, Rock, Wildflower
Cultivation
Plant bulbs at four times their own depth in moist, free-draining soil in a sunny but cool or partly shaded position. Bulbs are delicate, so need to be handled carefully. Can be naturalised in grass.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered