Crown imperial

Bulb · Perennial

Fritillaria imperialis

Crown imperial

Also known as: Petilium imperiale

A stately spring bulb with a ring of hanging orange or yellow bells beneath a tuft of leafy bracts.

  • Full sun, Partial shade
  • 0.6–1 m (2–3 ft)
  • 20–30 cm (8–12 in)
  • H7 · Zone 4
  • April–May
  • Deciduous
  • RHS Award of Garden Merit

Overview

Native from Turkey to the Himalaya, the crown imperial has been grown in gardens for over 400 years. In spring, stout stems up to 1m rise from large bulbs, each topped by a ring of large, hanging, bell-shaped flowers in orange, red or yellow, crowned with a tuft of green leaves. Look inside the bells to see glistening drops of nectar loved by bees. The whole plant has a musky, foxy smell. It is extremely hardy (below -20°C / -4°F) and does best in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun.

At a Glance

Sun Full sun, Partial shade
Height 0.6–1 m (2–3 ft)
Spread 20–30 cm (8–12 in)
Hardiness H7 · Zone 4
Flowers April–May
Soil Chalk, Loam, Sand
Moisture Moist well drained
Habit Upright
Water Moderate
Maintenance Moderate

Growing Conditions

Min. Temperature -25°C (-13°F)
pH Range 6–8
Fertility Fertile
Drainage Free Draining

Aspect Suitability

  • East-facing
  • South-facing
  • West-facing

Soil Tolerance

  • Chalk
  • Sandy
  • Loam
  • Acid
  • Neutral pH
  • Alkaline

Foliage

Persistence Deciduous
Colour Green
Leaf shape / texture lanceolate

Foliage interest: March–June

Seasonal Timeline

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Flowering
Foliage
Fruiting
Propagate
  • Flowering Apr May
  • Foliage Mar Apr May Jun
  • Fruiting Jun Jul
  • Propagate Jul Aug Sep

Maintenance Calendar

  • Mar Feed with a high-potash fertiliser as shoots appear, which builds up the bulb for flowering next year
  • Apr Check for bright red lily beetles and their larvae and pick them off, as they can strip the leaves
  • Jun Let the leaves die back naturally before cutting them off, since they feed the bulb for next year
  • Sep Plant bulbs 20cm deep, tilted slightly on their side, so water cannot collect in the hollow top and rot the bulb

Garden Design

Works well in: Cottage, Modern / Contemporary, Wildlife-friendly

Plant in groups among later perennials, which will hide the yellowing foliage in early summer.

Companion planting: Tulips, Euphorbias, Wallflowers, Late-emerging perennials

Wildlife Value

  • Bees
  • Other pollinators

Safety

  • Toxic to humans
  • Toxic to dogs
  • Toxic to cats
  • Toxic to horses
  • Skin irritant

Bulbs contain toxic alkaloids and are poisonous if eaten; handling them can irritate skin, so wear gloves when planting.