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Fritillaria camschatcensis - (L.)Ker-Gawl.

Common Name Kamchatka Lily, Kamchatka fritillary
Family Liliaceae
USDA hardiness 4-8
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Moist areas from sea level to 600 metres[60] in open woods and sub-alpine meadows[90].
Range Northern N. America - Washington to Alaska and eastwards to Siberia and Japan.
Edibility Rating    (4 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Fritillaria camschatcensis Kamchatka Lily,  	Kamchatka fritillary


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Ixitixel
Fritillaria camschatcensis Kamchatka Lily,  	Kamchatka fritillary
Illustration of Lilium camtschatcense and a page from Volume X of Transactions of the Linnean Society of London, published in 1811.

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of bulb
Fritillaria camschatcensis is a BULB growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in) by 0.1 m (0ft 4in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4. It is in flower in May. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Flies.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in saline soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Lilium camschatcensis.

Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Root  Seedpod
Edible Uses:

Bulb - raw, cooked or dried for later use[2, 46, 105, 183]. A staple food in areas where it grows wild[177], when cooked it tastes like baked chestnuts[74]. One report says that the bulbs have a slightly bitter taste, even after cooking[256]. The best-tasting bulbs are said to come from coastal areas where the plants are occasionally covered with salt water[254]. A pudding is made by mixing the bulbs with the fruit of Empetrum nigrum[183]. The bulb is also dried and ground into a powder, then used as a flour or starch for making breads and soups[183]. The bulb is best if harvested in the autumn[172], it resembles a cluster of cooked rice grains[207]. The green seedpods can be eaten raw or cooked. They are somewhat bitter[172].

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.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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FOOD FOREST PLANTS

Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

Food Forest  Scented Plants

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

A woodland plant, preferring a moraine or rock garden[1]. Easily grown in a light moist but well-drained sandy woodland soil[42, 163, 200]. Prefers a moist peaty soil and partial shade and must not be allowed to become dry[90]. Another report says that it prefers a sunny position[42] whilst yet another says that it succeeds in full sun or light shade in a rich soil[200]. The plants often grow close to the sea and survive periodic inundation with salt water[256]. The dormant bulb is very hardy and has withstood soil temperatures down to -20°c, though the embryonic flower shoot will be damaged at temperatures around -15°c[214]. A very ornamental plant[1], it is very variable in size and flower colour[90]. The flowers are sweetly scented[245]. Plants flower within 3 - 5 years from seed[164]. The plant is heat tolerant in zones 8 through 2. (Plant Hardiness Zones show how well plants withstand cold winter temperatures. Plant Heat Zones show when plants would start suffering from the heat. The Plant Heat Zone map is based on the number of "heat days" experienced in a given area where the temperature climbs to over 86 degrees F (30°C). At this temperature, many plants begin to suffer physiological damage. Heat Zones range from 1 (no heat days) to 12 (210 or more heat days). For example Heat Zone. 11-1 indicates that the plant is heat tolerant in zones 11 through 1.) For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is a clumper with limited spread [1-2]. The root pattern is rhizomatous with underground stems sending roots and shoots along their length [1-2].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.

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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

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

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 cirrhosaChuan Bei MuBulb0.5 4-8  LMSNM23 
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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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Expert comment

Author

(L.)Ker-Gawl.

Botanical References

60200270

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Frank Wendling   Tue Jul 15 2008

I have two comments. The first comment pertains to information indicating Fritillaria camscatcensis is hardy to Zone 4. I live in Anchorage, Alaska and grow Fritillaria camschatcensis for resale to the public. Anchorage is generally considered Zone 3, and Fritillaria camscatcensis thrive here. Fritillaria camscatcensis also grows and thrives in alpine areas in south Central Alaska. I don't know what zone those areas are but I would expect them to be Zone 2 or lower. My second comment pertains to the flowers being sweetly scented. Sweetly scented? In Alaska one of the less flattering common names for Fritillaria camscatcensis is "outhouse lily", a name suggested by the scent of the flower. These flowers are are pollinated by flies, suggesting sweetly scented flowers may not be a very accurate description of the scent.

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