Fritillaria

A beautiful and enchanting mix of the native Snakeshead Fritillary. This collection combines the classic chequered purple and the elegant pure white forms (var. alba). The delicate, nodding, bell-shaped flowers have a distinctive chequerboard pattern in shades of dusky purple and pink, mixed with the pristine white variety. They are held on slender, graceful stems above fine, grey-green foliage. This mix is perfect for naturalising in damp meadows, bog gardens, or under deciduous trees, where it will happily spread over the years to create a magical, fairy-tale scene in mid-spring.

A particularly robust and impressive selection of the Persian Lily, 'Persica XXL' is chosen for its ability to produce exceptionally tall, strong stems and a magnificent, elongated spire of flowers. Each towering stem can be packed with up to 50 nodding, bell-shaped blooms. The flowers are a beautiful and sophisticated shade of dusky, smoky, plum-purple, often with a silvery bloom on the outside. The 'XXL' designation indicates that these are typically larger bulbs that produce more vigorous, taller, and more floriferous spikes than the standard species, making for an even more dramatic and architectural garden statement. This variety is perfect for adding height, drama, and moody colour to the back of a sunny border.

A beautiful and elegant species, Fritillaria pallidiflora is prized for its large, gracefully nodding, bell-shaped flowers of a soft, creamy, primrose-yellow. The inside of the bell is subtly patterned with fine, reddish-brown or greenish chequering, giving it a delicate, intricate beauty. Each stem typically carries between two and five of these charming blooms in mid to late spring. This species is known for being one of the more robust and easy-to-grow fritillaries, adapting well to garden conditions. It is a fantastic choice for a lightly shaded border or a woodland garden, where its pale, luminous flowers will brighten up the space and happily multiply over time.

A charming and subtle species, Fritillaria uva-vulpis, the fox's grape fritillary, produces slender stems with one or two elegant, nodding, bell-shaped flowers in mid-spring. The blooms are a unique and beautiful dusky purple-maroon on the outside, with a distinct, tightly rolled rim of bright golden-yellow that looks as if it has been perfectly dipped in paint. The inside of the bell is a glossy, olive-green. This is a delightful and very easy-to-grow fritillary, perfect for naturalising in borders, rock gardens, or damp meadows where it will happily multiply over the years to form a beautiful colony.

The pure white form of the native Snakeshead Fritillary, 'Alba' is an exceptionally beautiful and graceful spring bulb. It produces delicate, nodding, bell-shaped flowers of a pristine, luminous white, completely lacking the chequered pattern of the species. The blooms are held on slender, wiry stems above fine, grey-green foliage. It has a magical, ethereal quality, especially when planted in large drifts where the white bells seem to shimmer in the light. It is an RHS Award of Garden Merit winner and is perfect for naturalising in damp meadows, woodland gardens, and alongside ponds, where it will happily spread over the years to form a breathtaking display.