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Fritillaria raddeana

Radde’s fritillary

A bulbous perennial, to 60cm tall, with alternate, glossy, slender, pale green leaves to 15cm long, borne on erect stems. In early spring, greenish-cream or pale yellow, broadly bell-shaped, nodding flowers are borne in umbels of 5 or 6, occasionally to 20, and topped with leaf-like bracts

Other common names
dwarf crown imperial

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Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metres
Time to ultimate height
1 year
Ultimate spread
0.1–0.5 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Cream Green Yellow Green
Summer Green
Autumn
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
  • Partial shade
Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness
H7
Botanical details
Family
Liliaceae
Native to GB / Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump forming
Potentially harmful
Ornamental bulbs, not to be eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Ornamental bulbs, not to be eaten - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Genus

Fritillaria are bulbous herbaceous perennials with lance-shaped or linear leaves and nodding bell-shaped or bowl-shaped flowers that may be solitary or in racemes or umbels

Name status

Correct

Plant range
Iran, Turkmenistan, West Himalaya

How to grow

Cultivation

Grows in a range of conditions from fertile well-drained soils in full sun to humus-rich, moisture-retentive soils in full sun or light shade. Handle the fragile bulbs carefully and plant at four times own depth

Propagation

Propagate by division of offsets in late summer; propagate by seed in autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Gravel garden
  • Rock garden
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Wall side borders
Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs and lily beetle

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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