Fritillaria persica

Description

Fritillaria persica is also known as the Black Persian lily and has wonderfully dark purple flowers It is very exotic looking and is an excellent garden plant.

Fritillaria persica is a Middle Eastern species of flowering plant in the lily family Liliaceae, native to southern Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Palestine and Israel.  It is widely cultivated as an ornamental and naturalized in the Lazio region of Italy.

The Latin specific epithet persica means “Persian”, referring to the modern country of Iran.

Fritillaria persica is a robust bulbous perennial growing 30–60 cm (12–24 in) tall. Each plant may bear up to 30, conical, narrow, bell-shaped flowers, up to 0.75 in (1.9 cm) long, ranging in colour from deep purple to greenish brown.

Cultivation Instructions

Before planting cultivate the soil to a depth of 30cm and ensure soils are well drained and do not dry out in the summer.  Plant in well-drained, humus rich soild and they can be left undisturbed for a number of years.  Add some grit or organic matter to the soil to help aid drainage.

Care tips:

Semi shaded areas of the garden ideally not in direct sunlight. They are ideal for planting amongst herbaceous plants or low shrubs. Once they have finished flowering allow the stems to die back and remove debris. In general plant the bulbs twice their height deep.

Feed regularly during the growing season with high potash and phosphate foods such as  bone meal or tomato food.

Growing Information

Flowering Height: 2-3 feet (60-90cm)

Flowering Period: April

Aspect: Sunny aspect.

Soil type: Free draining light, humus rich soils with added organic matter if possible.

Scented: N/A

Planting Depth: Approximately 3-4 inches below soil surface.

Planting distance: 10-15cms (8-12″)

New season top quality bulbs dispatched from September on-wards