Michailovsky's fritillary

Sun

Full sun or light partial shade; avoid deep shade.

Water

Keep moderately moist during active spring growth, then much drier after the leaves die back. Avoid waterlogged soil in any season.

Soil

Well-drained, gritty soil with some organic matter; neutral to slightly alkaline conditions suit it well.

Height

0.5-0.8 ft (0.15-0.25 m)

Spread

0.25-0.5 ft (0.08-0.15 m) per bulb, gradually forming a small clump

Flowers

Mid-spring; nodding, dark reddish-purple bells with broad yellow rims.

Foliage

Narrow, grey-green leaves on short upright stems; foliage dies back after flowering.

Growth

Slow to moderate; established bulbs may produce offsets.

Care needed

Medium

• Pollinators
• Deer resistant
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   0.5 ft (0.15 m)

2. After 1 year

   0.6 ft (0.19 m)

3. After 2 years

   0.7 ft (0.2 m)

   full size

About 1 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

Growth rate

Slow

• Plant bulbs in autumn, about 3-4 in (8-10 cm) deep and apart; plant promptly rather than storing them dry.
• Water during spring growth if the soil dries, but never leave bulbs standing in wet soil.
• Apply a light dressing of bulb fertiliser as shoots emerge, following the label rate.
• Reduce watering when the leaves yellow; shelter pots from persistent summer rain.
• Lift and separate crowded clumps during summer dormancy, then replant promptly.

Pruning. Remove faded flowers if you do not want seed. Leave stems and leaves until they have yellowed completely, then cut them off at soil level.

Autumn

Plant fresh bulbs in gritty, freely draining soil or containers with drainage holes.

Late winter

Check emerging shoots for slug damage and make sure pots are draining freely.

Early spring

Apply a light bulb feed and water if conditions are dry.

Mid-spring

Enjoy the flowers; remove spent blooms unless you want to collect seed.

Late spring

Allow foliage to yellow naturally and gradually reduce watering.

Summer

Keep dormant bulbs relatively dry; divide crowded clumps if needed.

• Plant small groups beside a rock-garden path so the two-tone bells can be seen closely.
• Use in raised gravel beds with other small bulbs that prefer dry summer conditions.
• Grow in terracotta pots or alpine troughs for a close-up spring display.
• Place near the front of a sunny border among low plants that will not crowd the bulbs.

Garden styles it suits: Alpine rock garden, Dry gravel garden, Cottage garden, Modern courtyard, Small-space and Traditional.

Plant it with: Species crocuses, Dwarf irises, Grape hyacinths, Rock cress and Creeping thyme.

Wildlife: Flowers can provide spring nectar and pollen for bees. Its small size and brief flowering season make it a supplementary rather than a major wildlife planting.

• Bulb rot in wet soil: improve drainage or grow in a raised bed or gritty potting mix; discard soft, rotten bulbs.
• Slugs and snails eating shoots: inspect new growth and use hand removal or locally approved controls.
• Scarlet lily beetle, where present: check leaves and stems regularly and remove beetles, eggs and larvae by hand.
• Leaves but few flowers: improve light, avoid cutting green foliage, and divide overcrowded bulbs after they become dormant.

Treat all parts, especially the bulbs, as poisonous if eaten by people, cats, dogs or horses. Fritillaries contain toxic alkaloids; species-specific poisoning information is limited, but ingestion may cause vomiting, diarrhoea and potentially serious effects. Keep bulbs away from children and animals, and seek medical or veterinary advice after ingestion.

• Fox's grape fritillary (Fritillaria uva-vulpis)

  Usually taller, with narrower, longer bells in muted brownish-purple and green tones; its yellow edging is less broad and striking.

• Snake's head fritillary (Fritillaria meleagris)

  Has conspicuously chequered purple or white bells rather than dark bells with a broad yellow rim; it also prefers moister growing conditions.

Fritillaria comes from the Latin fritillus, meaning a dice box, traditionally linked to the chequered markings of some species.

Propagation. Separate offsets during summer dormancy and replant promptly. Alternatively, sow ripe seed in a pot outdoors and allow natural seasonal temperature changes; seedlings usually take several years to flower.

Accepted botanical name

Fritillaria michailovskyi

Native range

Turkey.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0) and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.