(Fritilaria imperialis) Imperial fritillary or imperial hazel grouse. One of the most beautiful fritillaries. The leaves are arranged in a rosette, the upper part of the stem is leafless, and a bunch of leaves or “crown” forms at the top, from whose petals 2–12 drooping flowers develop, resembling a crown, hence the name — imperial crown. The flowers are bell-shaped, drooping, with a black spot at the base of each petal with a white nectary and yellow anthers. The bulb is large, yellow, up to 10 cm in diameter, with a characteristic pungent odor that many people find unpleasant. Height 50-70 cm. Blooms in early May. In June, the leaves and stem dry out. Grown in a sunny location, in fertile, well-drained soil, grows well in slightly acidic or calcareous soil, less well in sandy and heavy clay soils. The bulbs are planted at a depth of 15-20 cm, at a distance of 25-35 cm from each other. In spring, they grow rapidly and form shoots, which must be protected from frost.
Before flowering, the royal fritillary needs constant moisture, otherwise it is very sensitive to drought during growth; if the soil is too dry, the fritillary will not bloom, the buds will dry out, and smaller bulbs will form, which will not bloom the following spring. A warm and sunny location is necessary for flower shoots to appear after flowering. The bulb is perennial, with a strong specific aroma, and can grow in one place without transplanting for several years, in summer, the soil should be dry.
1pcs
