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Fritillaria meleagris - L.

Common Name Snakehead Fritillary, Chequered lily, Checkered Fritillary
Family Liliaceae
USDA hardiness 3-7
Known Hazards The bulb is poisonous[100].
Habitats Damp meadows and pastures[17], especially on alkaline soils[90].
Range Europe, including Britain, from Sweden south and west to France, Serbia and the Lower Volga.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Fritillaria meleagris Snakehead Fritillary, Chequered lily, Checkered Fritillary


Fritillaria meleagris Snakehead Fritillary, Chequered lily, Checkered Fritillary

 

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Summary

Bloom Color: Pink, Purple, White. Main Bloom Time: Early summer, Late spring. Form: Spreading or horizontal, Upright or erect.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of bulb
Fritillaria meleagris is a BULB growing to 0.3 m (1ft) by 0.1 m (0ft 4in) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from April to May, and the seeds ripen from June to July. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees. The plant is self-fertile.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

 Meadow;

Edible Uses

None known

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


The plant formerly had a reputation as a healing herb, but is not used at present[4].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

Attracts Wildlife

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Border, Container, Massing, Specimen, Woodland garden. Prefers a moist non-acid soil and a sunny position[17, 24, 42]. Succeeds in any soil, preferring a light soil with plenty of humus[1, 90]. Succeeds in sun or light shade[1, 90]. Grows well in short turf[108]. A very ornamental plant[1], it often self-sows when in a suitable position. Rabbits are very fond of this plant and will destroy it wholesale if given the opportunity[4]. A good plant for the spring meadow[24, 90, 134]. The flowers are very attractive to bees[108]. Plants should not be allowed to dry out in the summer[90]. Special Features: Attractive foliage, Naturalizing, Flowers have an unpleasant odor, Attractive flowers or blooms.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as ripe in a cold frame, it should germinate in the spring[1]. Protect from frost[134]. Stored seed should be sown as soon as possible and can take a year or more to germinate[134]. Sow the seed quite thinly to avoid the need to prick out the seedlings. Once they have germinated, give them an occasional liquid feed to ensure that they do not suffer mineral deficiency. Once they die down at the end of their second growing season, divide up the small bulbs, planting 2 - 3 to an 8cm deep pot. Grow them on for at least another year in light shade in the greenhouse before planting them out whilst dormant. Division of offsets in August[1]. The larger bulbs can be planted out direct into their permanent positions, but it is best to pot up the smaller bulbs and grow them on in a cold frame for a year before planting them out in the autumn. Bulb scales[163].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Fritillaria affinisChocolate Lily, Checker lilyBulb0.6 4-8  LMSNM300
Fritillaria atropurpureaPurple Fritillary, Spotted fritillaryBulb0.6 4-8  LMSNDM21 
Fritillaria camschatcensisKamchatka Lily, Kamchatka fritillaryBulb0.5 4-8  LMSNM40 
Fritillaria cirrhosaChuan Bei MuBulb0.5 4-8  LMSNM23 
Fritillaria imperialisCrown Imperial, Imperial fritillary, Crown Imperial FritillaryBulb1.0 7-9 SMHSNDM21 
Fritillaria pallidifloraPale-Flowered FritillaryBulb0.6 3-7  LMSNM03 
Fritillaria pudicaYellow FritillaryBulb0.2 3-7  LMSNDM30 
Fritillaria roylei Bulb0.6 4-8  LMSNM02 
Fritillaria sewerzowii Bulb0.3 4-8  LMSNDM01 
Fritillaria thunbergiiZhe Bei MuBulb0.6 7-10  LMSNM23 
Fritillaria verticillata Bulb0.6 4-8  LMSNDM23 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Author

L.

Botanical References

17200

Links / References

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Readers comment

dianne sutherland   Tue May 6 2008

dianne sutherland botanical studies and information regarding British native speciesi

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Subject : Fritillaria meleagris  
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