Undependable bulbs - Fritillaria imperialis

Diane Whitehead voltaire@islandnet.com
Tue, 06 May 2008 11:36:52 PDT
There have been a couple of mentions of Frit imperialis as being  
difficult to grow.

The top of the hill where I live has a couple of gravel pits.  The  
bottom has outflows from a nearby lake, so the bottom supports many  
plants that won't grow at the top.  Pierre Timp's display bulb garden  
used to be there.  All through the bulb season, visitors would wander  
the paths, order form and pencil in hand.  Then in the fall, the bulbs  
we'd ordered would arrive from Holland.

The skunky odour of the frit would drift along the path and meet us  
before we could see the spectacular clumps of flowers.  Nonetheless, I  
did buy some of each colour - red, orange, and yellow.  I read that  
one had to plant them sideways so they wouldn't rot, so I followed  
instructions.  I did see leaves the first year, but I never had  
flowers, and not even leaves in subsequent years.

I don't know whether Mr. Timp replaced his bulbs each year, or whether  
they thrived in his damp garden.

Does anyone have success with them?


Diane Whitehead
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
maritime zone 8, cool Mediterranean climate
mild rainy winters, mild dry summers




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