Fritillaria raddeana

The Fritillaria raddeana is a magnificent bulbous plant very similar to classic imperial crowns, but a little shorter, a little earlier, and above all adorned with very pale yellow flowers, a much more subtle and easy to harmonize colour in the garden. Its large bulb is planted early in autumn, in well-drained soil, before its magnificent flowering stem adorned with a beautiful pastel bell-shaped crown emerges in spring. An exceptional plant, but relatively easy to acclimate to the sun in any well-drained, dry soil in winter and summer.

Distributed in Iran, Turkmenistan, and Kashmir, the Fritillaria raddeana belongs to the botany family Liliaceae, and to the subgenus Petilum. This rare botanical species is sometimes called dwarf imperial crown. In nature, it is found in well-exposed rocky areas, both in the plains and up to an altitude of 1800 m (5905ft), in regions with a montane and continental climate. It is a very hardy plant that loves cold winters but fears excessively wet soils in winter. The imperial fritillary, discovered at the same time as tulips, already adorned the gardens of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent in 1530. Like the tulip, it was highly prized by collectors throughout the 17th century.

The vegetation of the Fritillaria raddeana emerges early in spring. It consists of a shiny stem covered with numerous narrow, long leaves measuring 8-12 cm (3-5in), also glossy, sheathing at the base, and a very fresh green. This stem rapidly elongates to reach a height of about 70-80 cm (28-32in) in April, at the time of flowering. The inflorescence forms at its tip. It consists of an umbel of 10 to 20 pendulous bell-shaped flowers, creamy yellow to greenish in colour, gathered in a crown. Each flower is composed of 6 tepals. This crown of flowers is topped with a tuft of very fresh green bracts, shaped like leaves, reminiscent of the tuft that surmounts pineapples. The vegetation dries up a few weeks after the end of flowering, marking the bulb's entry into a period of rest. Like all fritillaries, the strong odor emitted by its bulb makes it an excellent repellent in tulip beds, for example.

The Fritillaria raddeana is a botanical treasure. This bulbous plant deserves a prime location, in a well-chosen, sheltered spot that meets its requirements; a raised bed enriched with sand and gravel, a rock garden, or a garden with sandy and loamy soil should allow it to flourish. To accompany it, consider, for example, botanical or horticultural tulips, scillas, forget-me-nots, daffodils, and grape hyacinths with which it creates delightful compositions.