FRITILLARIA
A large and variable family of northern hemisphere bulbs closely related to lilies but these are spring flowering. All require well-drained soil, protection from wind and a fairly dry dormancy to thrive. We have greatly reduced the list this season to concentrate on the garden-worthy species although collectors will find the occasional treasure here as well. First timers try some of the easier species, as skill and experience are pre-requisites for success.
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acmopetala Tall growing handsome frit for a dryish spot in the garden. Nodding bells in green and maroon with recurved tips. An easy grower for the open garden and a good “starter” for beginners. FS/1st $4.00 or 3 for $10.00 |
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affinis An excellent tall American species and an easy one for beginners. Good natured and easy flowering with broad, heavily chequered dark blooms flecked with golden-yellow. FS/1st $8.00 |
alfredae ssp glaucoviridis A most graceful and beautiful species from the spikey oak forests of eastern Turkey. Elegant, glaucous-green flowers glaucous and narrow, blue-green scattered leaves on tall stems. Sharply winged seed capsules extends the delight. FS/1st $9.00
argolica Close to F. rhodokanakis and once thought to be a hybrid of it. From seed collections taken from abandoned olive groves on the island of Poros, off the NE tip of the Peleponnese. Early, large bells of reddish-brown, stippled in green and gold. FS/1st $ 8.00
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bithynica Long, glaucous, yellow-green bells, yellow interiors on tallish stems with wonderfully winged seed capsules flushed with pink, green and fawn. Collected by us on the Greek island of Sam
os FS/1st $6.00 |
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davisii An exquisite endemic to the Mani peninsula in Greece. Shiny green foliage and broad, fat, deep chocolate bells, which are barely chequered. Variable in height and utterly at home in the dry garden. FS/1st $6.00 |
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ehrhartii Bloomy, yellow-tipped, grape-black bells that glow to ruby in the spring light. A beautiful native of Evvia in Greece not often offered but has proven an easy species for a dry site. FS/1st $6.00 |
elwesii Tall very graceful species from Turkey with several long dark purple bells broadly striped
green. Alternate glaucous leaves. Very easy and a good "beginners" plant. FS/1st $6.00
graeca var guicciardii Grown from our own seed collections on Mt Parnitha, the type locality for
this variety. Longer bells of glistening brown boldly marked with broad peppermint green stripes.
The archetypal Greek fritillary. FS/1st $7.00
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graeca ssp thessala A native to northern Greece and Albania, this is a robust species for a sunny position. Green bells, striped and chequered rust-red borne tall stems. Larger than the type and more useful in the garden. FS/1st $ 5.00 |
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grayana (syn. roderickii) A surprisingly easy American species (I wish there were more!). Closely related to F. biflora, shiny green leaves and shiny purple brown bells with a white blotch on each petal. FS/1st $5.00 |
meleagris Easy in the garden and arrestingly beautiful! A reliable flowerer even in heavy soil bearing its pendent, chequered, fairy bells in subtle shades of mauve and grey on tall stems. An occasional white form may have found its way into this offering. FS $3.00 or 3 for $8.00
messanensis ssp gracilis A tall and handsome species of understated beauty from the Balkans.
Very hardy and one of the most vigorous in the garden. Rich chestnut-brown bells with shining gold
interiors. FS $7.00
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messanensis ssp messanensis These are the Cretian race collected on the foothills of Mt. Kedros, near Spili. Very elegant, urn-shaped flowers chequered green and reddish-brown, on tall stems. FS/1st $ 7.00 |
obliqua This is the genuine plant grown from seed collected at one of the few known sites near Marathon. Similar to F. tuntasia with its large, bloomy, blackish bells and narrow, glaucous grey leaves. Rare offering. FS/1st $8.00
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pallidiflora From Kazakhstan bearing very large, square-shouldered, lemon bells on 50cm stems. Very beautiful species and whatís more itís easy in the garden. FS/1st $12.00 |
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pontica An excellent garden plant with an understated elegance and cool charm. Medium to large sized green to greenish-yellow bells delicately edged terracotta pink at the tips. FS $3 or 3 for $8 |
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pontica ssp substipelata Found only on the Greek Island of Lebos this is a much taller and
elegant plant than the type and rarely offered on any list. Narrow leaves and longer-waisted pale
green bells heavily blotched purple-red at the tips. A fine bulb for Australian conditions.
FS/1st $7.00 |
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pudica Nodding bright-yellow bells early in the season on quite tall stems. Unlike any other
American species and appears to have more in common with the intractable F. minima from Eastern
Turkey. First time offered. FS/1st $10.00 |
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pyrenaica A strong-growing, robust species from the Pyrenees easily cultivated in the open garden. Large, widely flaring, bell-shaped flowers in dark purple brown, shining yellow within, on 35cm stems. FS/1st $7.00 |
rhodokanakis Beautiful, early flowering Greek species found only on the island of Hydra and now under threat from habitat loss. Neat, broadly flaring bells in chocolate-brown tipped with gold on 30cm stems. FS/1st 8.00
thunbergii A
fine, tall growing Asian species for the garden bearing up to 6 broadly cupped whitish flowers that are tinged green and pink and lightly spotted purple and brown without and within. Easy FS/1st $6.00
stribrynyi An elegant species limited to southern Bulgaria and adjacent European Turkey and rarely offered. Narrow, glaucous, untesselated, purple and green bells with linear, greyish foliage on tall stems. FS/1st $8.00
uva vulpis A handsome plant bearing slim, glaucous brown bells tipped yellow on tall stem that clasped with broad grey leaves. Not difficult and an excellent addition for a sunny spot in the garden. FS/1st $6
