FRITILLARIA

Among the cacophony of spring bulbs, the delicate fritillaries can go unnoticed. The more subdued forms might not stand out from the crowd but they’re worth a closer look. Kneel down beside a clump and with your finger, gently lift one of the pendent, bell-shaped blooms to reveal the intricate pattern inside. The outside of the flower may be muddy green, brown or muted purple but inside the colours are strong and glossy, leading to a cluster of nectaries at the base.

Not all fritillaries are so shy, the main exception is the impressive crown imperial, . Its leafy stem can reach over a metre in height and is topped with a cluster of large, pendent flowers in shades of orange or yellow.‘Lutea’ is one of the oldest and most reliable cultivars. ‘The Premier’ is a good orange form and ‘William Rex’ has bronzy, orange-red flowers.