Undependable bulbs - Fritillaria imperialis
Diane Whitehead (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