Species Fritillaria

The genus Fritillaria is large - it includes around 150 different species and subspecies, which are native to various parts of the Northern hemisphere, from the Mediterranean through southwest Asia to parts of North America. They were noted by sixteenth century European botanists, possibly having arrived from traders and travellers to Turkey. F. meleagris were recorded as growing wild in the Loire meadows in 1570, and it is at this point the name is established - fritillus  is the Latin name for a box which dice were kept in, with a chequerboard appearance.

How to plant Fritillaria bulbs:

This is a huge family, and they all have slightly different preferences in terms of soil and sunlight. In general they do best in semi-shaded woodland gardens, in a soil that retains some moisture but which doesn't dry out too quickly. Incorporating plenty of leaf mould before planting is always a good idea.

Species Fritillaria - the size of the bulb can vary enormously from species to species, from the diminuitive F. meleagris to the substantial F. persica. Plant to a depth of 4 times the height of the bulb. Again, almost all prefer some shade, so under deciduous trees or sheltered by nearby large shrubs is perfect.