Fritillaria meleagris 

‘Snakehead Fritillary’

[Ex. Wiltshire, England]

Liliaceae: a perennial bulb to 30cm. Found on damp undisturbed meadows. The flowers are 3-4cm long, nodding, bell-shaped, usually pinkish purple with dark chequerboard markings (sometimes pure white, on slender stems. Blooming from April – May. The fruit are capsules full of flattened seeds. The leaves are grey-green, narrow, and grass-like. Native to Europe, from Sweden south and west to France, Serbia and the Lower Volga. In Britain it is a rare plant find in southern England.

USES:

The plant formerly had a reputation as a healing herb.

GROWING INFORMATION:

Seeds are best sown in the autumn, and should germinate in the spring, but some seeds could take another winter. Sow the seed quite thinly to avoid the need to prick out the seedlings. Once they have germinated, give them an occasional liquid feed to ensure that they do not suffer mineral deficiency. Once they die down at the end of their second growing season, divide up the small bulbs, planting 2 - 3 to an 8cm deep pot. Grow them on for at least another year in light shade in the greenhouse before planting them out whilst dormant.

Prefers a moist non-acid soil with plenty of humus, and a sunny position. Plants do well in short turf, and are very ornamental plant. It often self-sows when in a suitable position.

The flowers are very attractive to bees.

HARVESTED:

 

APPROX. 50+ SEEDS