Crown imperial

Appearance

Fritillaria imperialis grows to about 1 m (3 ft) in height, and bears lance-shaped, glossy leaves at intervals along the stem. It bears a prominent whorl of downward facing flowers at the top of the stem, topped by a 'crown' of small leaves, hence the name. While the wild form is usually orange-red, various colours are found in cultivation, ranging from nearly a true scarlet through oranges to yellow. The pendulous flowers make a bold statement in the late spring garden; in the northern hemisphere, flowering takes place in late spring, accompanied by a distinctly foxy odour that repels mice, moles and other small animals.

Due to the way that the bulb is formed, with the stem emerging from a depression, it is best to plant it on its side, to prevent water causing rot at the top of the bulb. Fritillaria imperialis requires full sun for best growth, and sandy, well-drained soil for permanence. After flowering and complete drying of the leaves, the stems should be cut off just above the ground.

Naming

Synonyms
Fritillaria aintabensis Post
Fritillaria corona-imperialis Panz.
Fritillaria corona-imperialis Gaertn.
Fritillaria imperialis var. longipetala auct.
Fritillaria imperialis var. maxima Eeden
Fritillaria imperialis var. rubra-maxima auct.
Imperialis comosa Moench
Imperialis coronata Dum.Cours.
Imperialis superba Mirb.
Lilium persicum E.H.L.Krause
Petilium imperiale (L.) J.St.-Hil.
Petilium imperiale Jaume

Predators

Like other members of the lily family, F. imperialis is susceptible to depredation by the scarlet lily beetle (Lilioceris lilii).

Uses

Numerous cultivars have been developed for garden use, of which the yellow-flowered 'Maximea Lutea' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.