Fritillaria imperialis 'Argenteovariegata' (v)
crown imperial 'Argenteovariegata'
A bulbous perennial, to 90cm tall, with whorls of lance-shaped green leaves edged with a creamy-white band. Clusters of nodding, dark orange to red, flowers are borne, at the end of the upright stems, from mid to late spring
Buy this plant
Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 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 | Cream Green Variegated White | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Cream Green Variegated White | |||
| Autumn | Cream Green Variegated White | |||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered Hardiness
H7Botanical details
- Family
- Liliaceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Columnar upright
- 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, humus-rich, well-drained soils and prefers cool, moist summers. 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
- City and courtyard gardens
- Architectural
- 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
Fritillaria imperialis 'Argenteovariegata' (v)
crown imperial 'Argenteovariegata'
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.