Fritillaria liliacea

The Fritillaria liliacea is a Californian fritillary that has become rare in the wild due to the disturbance of its natural environment. This species, not very tall, is characterized by small pendulous bell-shaped flowers, whitish with a green midrib, sometimes slightly fragrant. Its flowering extends from late winter to early spring. It is a fairly delicate fritillary, adapted to heavy soils that are moist in winter and spring, but not completely dry in summer. Reserved for experienced gardeners or collectors of rare bulbous plants!

The Fritillaria liliacea belongs to the Lily family. It is found in heavy or clayey soils, often of volcanic origin (andesitic and basaltic, serpentine), on sunny slopes, scrublands, and coastal prairies in a few locations in the southwest of Northern California. It is found at altitudes of less than 200 m (656ft). There is very little data regarding its cold resistance.

The plant develops from a scaly bulb measuring 1.5 to 2.5 cm (1in) in diameter, with four to six claws. Flowering occurs from February to April, at the top of a stem measuring 15 to 35 cm (6 to 14in) in height. Each stem bears 2 to 4 bell-shaped flowers, white to cream in colour, striped with pale green and showing a green or yellow throat. Depending on the plants, the fragrance may be absent or present. Each flower, hanging towards the ground, measures about 3 cm (1in) in diameter. The fruit is a vertically oriented capsule with 6 angles. The foliage consists of 2 to 20 mainly basal, oblong-lanceolate or obovate leaves, measuring 3.5 to 12 cm (1 to 5in) in length, shiny, and bright green in colour. The above-ground vegetation of the Fritillaria liliacea disappears in summer, and the plant goes into dormancy. During this period, the soil should be dry.

The Fritillaria liliacea is probably a little easier to cultivate in pots in our climate, which allows passionate gardeners to more easily provide it with the appropriate growing conditions in terms of soil and watering.