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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 the UK
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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