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Fritillaria persica

Fritillaria persica
Persian Lily, Persian Fritillary

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In spring, this botanical species boasts a spectacular floral stem adorned with bell-shaped flowers in dark brown-purple with black, bluish, and silvery reflections. Its bluish-silvery foliage is also attractive. The Persian fritillary is a bulbous plant that is quite easily cultivated in the sun, in very well-drained garden soil or in a rockery where it creates a sensation. Resistant to cold, it dreads heavy and overly moist soils, as well as arid situations.
Flower size
30 cm
Height at maturity
80 cm
Spread at maturity
30 cm
Exposure
Sun
Hardiness
Hardy down to -20°C
Soil moisture
Dry soil, Moist soil
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Best planting time August to September
Recommended planting time August to October
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Flowering time April to May
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Description

Fritillaria persica, or Persian lily, is a botanical species that always makes a big impression. This bulbous plant is distinguished by its spectacular flowering stems adorned with bell-shaped flowers that are very dark. The entire plant is covered with a kind of bloom, giving the foliage a soft green-grey-blue colour. The flowers have amazing reflections. Originating from the mountains of Persia, this bulbous plant acclimatises quite easily in our gardens if it is placed in the sun, in well-drained soil. In spring, it's all you see in the rockery or in a raised bed!

 

Fritillaria persica belongs to the Liliaceae family. It is native to an area ranging from Jordan to Iran, and is widely found in Western Asia. It comes from areas with relatively dry mountain environments in winter, where it can be found growing in dry rockeries, along paths or fields, between 500 and 1200m (1640 and 3937ft) of altitude. This fritillary often grows in limestone soils. There is a significant variation within the species, which is manifested by the existence of very rare forms with different flowers.

The Persian fritillary develops from a large scale bulb measuring up to 8cm (3in) in diameter, which is sensitive to winter moisture. The vigorous buds emerge from the ground in February-March, then quickly elongate to form tall stems reaching a height of 80cm (32in) to 1m (3ft) at the time of flowering, in April. Each stem is adorned with entire and shortly lanceolate leaves, regularly spaced and spirally arranged up to a height of 50cm (20in). They have a beautiful matte grey-green-blue colour, as if powdered. Each stem ends in a spike over 30cm (12in) long, bearing 15 to 20 trailing flowers tightly packed together. Their colour is intermediate between plum, brown, and violet when they open, turning to purple when fully open. The petals, like the leaves, appear covered with a light silvery bloom. Their pleasant fragrance attracts pollinating insects. After pollination, a cylindrical and erect fruit forms, which will release numerous flat seeds when ripe. The above-ground vegetation disappears in summer, and the plant enters a period of rest. The soil should be rather dry during this dormant stage.

As spectacular as the Imperial Fritillary, which is much more well-known, the majestic Persian fritillary surpasses it in elegance. Give it a good place in a rockery or in a bed that does not retain too much water, neither in winter nor in summer. There are different varieties of Persian fritillaries ('Adiyaman', 'Bicolor Magic Bells') that blend perfectly together. You can also choose Euphorbia 'Glacier Blue', shrubby artemisias, or pink perennial salvias as companions, which will somewhat mask its absence in summer and winter. The Persian fritillary brings verticality to tulip and narcissus beds, just like eremurus that appreciate the same environments.

Another advantage is that their bulbs emit a scent that repels rodents, especially moles. They can therefore be used to protect tulip bulbs from their attacks.
 

Fritillaria persica in pictures

Fritillaria persica (Flowering) Flowering

Plant habit

Height at maturity 80 cm
Spread at maturity 30 cm
Growth rate normal

Flowering

Flower colour purple
Flowering time April to May
Inflorescence Spike
Flower size 30 cm
Fragrance slightly scented

Foliage

Foliage persistence Deciduous
Foliage colour grey or silver
Foliage description Deciduous foliage in summer and winter.

Botanical data

Genus

Fritillaria

Species

persica

Family

Liliaceae

Other common names

Persian Lily, Persian Fritillary

Origin

Middle East

Product reference19603

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Planting and care

It thrives in the sun (or in partial shade in hot regions). Ideally, it prefers a continental climate (or not too cold mountain climate) where winters and summers are dry and springs are humid. Plant it in fertile and well-drained soil. Avoid soil that is too acidic or heavy: if the drainage is insufficient, the fritillary may rot, both in winter and in summer. Carry out the planting as soon as possible, from September to October, by adding sand, gravel, or pumice to the planting hole and planting in a raised bed (a 25cm (10in) difference in height is sufficient). Place the bulb at a depth of 20cm (8in), slightly tilting it so that its core does not collect rainwater.

In winter, we recommend mulching the fritillary, partly to protect it from the cold, but especially from excessive humidity. Remove faded flowers if you do not want them to self-sow. Do not water your fritillaries in summer and winter. If the soil is too dry in spring, water lightly to start the bulb, but always without excess.

1
7,50 € Bag

Planting period

Best planting time August to September
Recommended planting time August to October
Planting depth 20 cm

Intended location

Suitable for Meadow, Rockery
Type of use Border, Free-standing, Slope
Hardiness Hardy down to -20°C (USDA zone 6b) Show map
Ease of cultivation Amateur
Planting density 20 per m2
Exposure Sun
Soil pH Neutral, Calcareous
Soil moisture Dry soil, Moist soil, Well-drained soil, fairly rich

Care

Pruning instructions Cut the faded flowers if you don't want them to reseed themselves.
Pruning Pruning recommended once a year
Pruning time May to June
Soil moisture Dry soil, Moist soil
Disease resistance Average
Overwinter Can be left in the ground

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