Crown Imperials & Fritillaria

Fritillaria imperialis ‘Aurora’ is a wonderfully statuesque crown imperial, raising tall stems topped with a neat tuft of glossy green leaves and a ring of nodding, bright orange, bell-shaped blooms. It brings a refined sense of theatre to spring borders, and sits particularly well amongst early tulips, narcissi and fresh, emerging perennials.

Plant in autumn and allow it time to settle; once established, this is a confident, architectural bulb for naturalistic planting, under open-canopied deciduous trees, or in a sheltered position where its form can be properly appreciated.

• Colour & form: bright orange bells beneath a leafy green crown
• Best for: borders, naturalising, cottage & informal gardens
• Flowering: March–May
• Delivered as: premium-grade bulb (20/+)

Fritillaria 'Garland Star Imperialis' brings a note of theatre to the spring border: tall, architectural stems crowned with elegantly pendulous, bell-shaped flowers. It is a wonderfully naturalistic choice for planting in drifts through borders and light woodland edges, where its stately form reads beautifully amongst tulips, early perennials and fresh spring foliage.

• Refined spring structure with distinctive, hanging bells for an assured, botanical look
• Excellent for naturalising in a sheltered position with reliable drainage
• Deer resistant and pollinator friendly for considered, wildlife-aware planting
• Superb in borders and useful for cutting when you want something a little out of the ordinary

Delivery: Order today for delivery in 2-3 working days, perfectly timed for autumn planting.

Fritillaria imperialis 'Orange Beauty' is a crown imperial of real presence: tiers of rich orange, bell-shaped flowers held beneath a jaunty tuft of glossy green foliage. It brings a composed, architectural note to spring borders and looks particularly handsome threaded through naturalistic planting where its strong vertical line can be appreciated.

Plant in autumn while the soil is still workable, choosing a sunny, well-drained spot. With a little patience as the bulbs settle, it will reward you with a reliably distinctive spring display.

• Colour: Orange with yellow accents
• Flower form: Bell-shaped
• Position: Borders, beds, rock gardens; also excellent in containers
• Habit: Clump-forming, upright
• Pollinator friendly: Yes
• Deer resistant: Yes

Fritillaria persica 'Purple Dynamite' is a particularly polished form of the Persian lily, producing stately spires set with glossy, plum-purple bells. The dark flowers and fresh green foliage make a sophisticated contrast in late-spring borders, gravel gardens and generous containers.

Supplied as impressive 20/24 bulbs, this RHS Award of Garden Merit variety has the presence to stand alone yet associates beautifully with pale tulips, alliums and airy perennials. It is an unusual, architectural choice for gardeners who favour plants with real distinction.

Fritillaria persica ‘Ivory Bells’ is a beautifully poised fritillary, valued for its tall, architectural spires of softly nodding, green-tinted ivory bells. Rising above cool grey-green foliage, it lends a composed, contemporary note to spring borders and looks equally distinguished when threaded through meadow-style planting.

Plant in autumn into fertile, well-drained soil and allow it a little time to settle; by its second or third season it will reward you with a statuesque presence from April through to June. An assured choice for gardeners who appreciate structure as much as flower.

• Quiet drama for late spring — elegant, bell-shaped flowers in refined ivory with a fresh green touch
• Superb vertical form — ideal for borders, naturalising and handsome containers
• Pollinator friendly — a welcome stop for spring-foraging insects

Fritillaria imperialis 'Red Beauty' brings a touch of old-world drama to the spring border: tall, upright stems carrying rich orange-red, bell-shaped blooms, finished with a crisp green crown. It is wonderfully architectural—perfect for adding height, rhythm and a little theatre amongst late daffodils and early tulips.

Best planted in autumn in a sheltered, sunny position with excellent drainage, this is a confident choice for gardeners who enjoy distinctive bulbs with presence. Given time to settle, it forms a handsome clump and returns each spring with increasing poise.

• Colour: Dark orange-red with green crown
• Flower shape: Bell-shaped
• Height: 50–100cm
• Ideal for: Borders; Naturalising
• Wildlife: Pollinator friendly

Pre-order for autumn planting.

Fritillaria imperialis ‘Sunset’ is a wonderfully architectural crown imperial, prized for its glossy green foliage and a ring of burnished orange, bell-shaped flowers, finished with a jaunty tuft at the top. It brings a composed, statuesque note to spring borders and looks equally at home threaded through naturalistic planting.

Plant in autumn into fertile, well-drained soil in a sheltered position, and allow space for its upright, clump-forming habit. As the stems rise in spring, ‘Sunset’ provides height, colour and a confident vertical accent—particularly effective repeated in small groups.

• Botanical name: Fritillaria imperialis ‘Sunset’
• Common name: fritillary (crown imperial)
• Flower colour: Orange with green foliage
• Flowering: March–May
• Height: 50–100cm
• Bulb size: 24/26

Fritillaria persica 'Adiyaman' is a wonderfully architectural spring bulb, sending up poised, upright stems lined with slender green foliage and finished with a refined spire of nodding, bell-shaped blooms. The colouring sits in the deepest purple-brown, reading almost black in certain light—quietly dramatic, and effortlessly sophisticated.

Plant through autumn for a statement in mixed borders, gravelly schemes, and naturalistic planting where its vertical form brings a sense of intention. Equally handsome in large containers in a sheltered courtyard position, where the flowers can be admired up close.

• Colour: Deep purple (near-black)
• Flower shape: Bell-shaped, nodding
• Height: 50–100cm
• Ideal for: Borders, containers, courtyard gardens, naturalising

Fritillaria pallidiflora is a quietly sophisticated fritillary, prized for its glaucous foliage and poised, nodding bells in soft greenish-yellow. Flowering from late spring into early summer, it brings a natural, woodland elegance to lightly shaded borders, tree-line planting and informal drifts where it can settle in and look entirely at home.

At around 50cm tall, the upright stems carry a refined cluster of bell-shaped blooms above cool-toned leaves—particularly handsome when threaded through ferns, early grasses and other spring bulbs for a gently layered effect.

• Colour: pale yellow with green tones
• Flower shape: bell-shaped, nodding
• Best for: borders, woodland edges, naturalised planting
• Pollinator friendly: Yes
• Hardiness: Fully Hardy

Fritillaria meleagris ‘Alba’ is a quietly exquisite spring-flowering bulb, bearing pristine white, nodding bells on slender stems above grey-green foliage. It lends a refined, natural charm when threaded through grass, tucked into woodland-style planting, or placed neatly at the front of a border—an elegant alternative to the more familiar chequered forms.

Best planted in early autumn for a relaxed, naturalised effect, this fully hardy perennial settles in gently and rewards patience with an increasingly lovely showing year by year.

Why you’ll love it

• Pure white, bell-shaped flowers with a graceful, nodding habit
• Superb for naturalising in grass and weaving through spring borders
• Fully hardy and pollinator friendly
• Compact and refined at around 30cm tall

Fritillaria meleagris Mix is a wonderfully characterful spring bulb, prized for its gently nodding, bell-shaped flowers in a refined mix of rich purple, occasionally joined by the odd white bloom. Each petal carries an intricate chequered pattern that reads beautifully at close quarters and feels perfectly at home in lightly wild planting.

Thread it through grass, naturalise it at the edge of a woodland path, or tuck it into pots where its delicate detailing can be enjoyed up close. Given a consistently moist yet well-drained position, it will settle in quietly and return with poise each April.

• Distinctive detail: chequered bells in purple with occasional white
• Perfect for naturalising: especially elegant through grass and woodland edges
• Wildlife-aware choice: pollinator friendly and noted as deer resistant

Important: Fritillaria bulbs dislike drying out. Plant as soon as possible after delivery for the best results.

Fritillaria uva-vulpis is a delightfully characterful little fritillary—perfect for those who appreciate subtle drama in spring. Its nodding, bell-shaped blooms appear in rich purple-brown, often neatly finished with a bright yellow tip, making a sophisticated note in rock gardens, gravel schemes and naturalistic planting.

Best where drainage is impeccable, this fully hardy perennial settles in unhurriedly and rewards patience with quietly increasing clumps over time. Ideal for sunny to lightly shaded positions, and particularly handsome when tucked among stones or threaded through the front of a border.

• Flower colour: Deep purple-brown with yellow tipping
• Flowering: March–May
• Height: 10–50cm
• Habit: Clump-forming perennial
• Best for: Naturalising, rockeries, patio pots & containers