Fritillaria imperialis 'Rubra Maxima'
crown imperial 'Rubra Maxima'
'Rubra Maxima' is a deciduous bulbous perennial, to 1.1m tall, with lance-shaped, glossy green leaves borne in whorls on the sturdy stem. In spring, umbels of nodding, orange-red flowers with darker veining are borne at the top of each stem and crowned with showy, leaf-like bracts
Synonyms
Fritillaria imperialis 'Maxima'Fritillaria imperialis 'De Jager's Favourite'
see moreFritillaria rubra major
Size
Ultimate height
1–1.5 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
Spring | Orange Red | Green | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Summer | Green | |||
Autumn | ||||
Winter |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered Hardiness
H7Botanical 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
Accepted
How to grow
Cultivation
Grows well in most fertile, well-drained soils. Handle the fragile bulbs carefully and plant at four times own depth. See crown imperial cultivation
Propagation
Propagate by division of offsets in late summer
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Architectural
- City and courtyard gardens
- Cottage and informal garden
- Flower borders and beds
Pruning
No pruning required
Pests
May be susceptible to slugs and lily beetle
Diseases
Generally disease-free
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.