October 2025

How to make a small garden border? Start by positioning evergreen and large structural plants, to create the ‘bones’ of the border. Then position groups of herbaceous perennials or small deciduous shrubs of the same species or cultivar. Planting these in groups, ideally with an odd number of plants, helps prevent the border looking ‘bitty’. […]

Can you grow Fritillaria imperialis from seed? Fritillaria seed ripens in mid to late summer and is best sown as soon as ripe or soon after in autumn. While older seed may still be viable it develops germination inhibitors that can make late sowings germinate erratically. Fritillaries can be propagated by seed. Sow in autumn

How do you plant Fritillaria imperialis bulbs? Plant bulbs deeply at a depth of at least 30cms (1ft) and a similar distance apart. Shallow planting will lead to poor flowering after the first year. If the soil is too wet to allow planting at this depth then it is not a suitable site. Consider constructing

Where do fritillarias grow best? Pick a spot in your garden that has well-draining soil and gets full sun or partial shade. Plant the fritillaria bulbs about 3-6” deep and 4-12” apart, depending on the variety, and place them in the soil with their pointy ends up. Water well once and wait for spring. Fritillaria

Do fritillaria bulbs multiply? Yes, they do. The bulbs will gradually clump up by dividing into bulbils that might take a little while to get to flowering stage. The smaller native varieties will also set seed as long as you do not dead head. Fritillaria imperialis prefers full sun. As with most spring-blooming bulbs, the

What do you do with Fritillaria imperialis after flowering? They bloom over several weeks; after flowering, let the stalk wither down, cut it off at the base when the leaves and stalk have turned yellow, let the bulb rest in the ground, and next spring you’ll have even more of these show-stopping flowers blooming in

Do Fritillaria imperialis bulbs multiply? Yes, they do. The bulbs will gradually clump up by dividing into bulbils that might take a little while to get to flowering stage. The smaller native varieties will also set seed as long as you do not dead head. It can take years for each split-apart bulb to grow

Can Fritillaria be grown in pots? The vast majority of fritillarias grow quite happily in pots, as long as they are kept in a greenhouse”, shares Dr Robert Wallis from The Fritillaria Group. FRITILLARIA CARE Water well in the fall after planting and in spring when plants are actively growing (about an inch of water

How tall does Fritillaria imperialis grow? Fritillaria imperialis, commonly called crown imperial, is an impressive plant that grows 3-4′ tall. Each bulb produces a thick, stout, upright, ramrod-straight flowering stem which rises to 4′ tall. Lance-shaped green stem leaves (to 6 long) with wavy margins appear in whorls around the lower 1/2 of the stem.

Are cheap greenhouses worth it? Plastic greenhouses provide an affordable alternative to glass but they have a reputation for collapsing and not keeping out frost at night. However they are a cost effective and flexible way of increasing your growing space that can outperform more costly options such as poly-carbonate greenhouses. HIGH UPFRONT AND OPERATING