10 Fritillaria Varieties to Plant This Season

Fritillaria, commonly known as fritillaries, are hardy perennial bulbs that produce flowers on drooping stems. Native to North America, Europe, and Asia, these plants offer both native and non-native varieties for your garden. Join native plant gardener Jerad Bryant as he explores 10 fritillaria bulbs you can plant this year for vibrant, fragrant, and colorful blooms.

Belonging to the lily family, fritillaria bulbs resemble lilies with their hanging bell-shaped flowers, tall stems, and lush basal foliage. The bulbs absorb energy, nutrients, and moisture by the end of the growing season, then enter dormancy, remaining underground until spring warmth returns.

Both native and non-native fritillaries are hardy across the U.S., as their bulbs enable them to stay hidden underground during unfavorable conditions. These perennials are easy to grow in borders, raised beds, or containers, and they naturalize well in cottage gardens without spreading aggressively.

Some species of fritillaria have an unpleasant aroma, though opinions vary. It’s wise to find a variety growing in a friend or neighbor’s garden to test the smell before planting it in your own. The crown imperial variety is the most pungent, while others are scentless. Choose one that suits your preferences.

Without further ado, here are 10 fritillaria varieties to plant this season, starting with North American natives and moving on to species from Europe and Asia.

Spotted Fritillary

The spotted fritillary is a West Coast wildflower that benefits pollinators and local wildlife. It produces yellow petals with dark maroon-green spots on two-foot-tall stems. Native to western Washington, Oregon, and California, this species extends eastward to the Dakotas and Nebraska. Spotted fritillaries thrive on forest edges, rocky slopes, and meadows within their native range.

They also perform well in pollinator gardens throughout USDA zones five to nine. Provide low water during the growing season in well-drained soil, and reduce watering during dormancy to maintain moist but not soggy soil.

Checker Lily

The checker lily, also known as the chocolate lily, is a native wildflower from the West Coast. It produces bell-shaped flowers with yellow and maroon checkerboard markings. These flowers attract pollinating insects with nectar and pollen, while their seed pods appeal to deer, birds, and other grazers. Checker lilies require well-drained soil, partial shade, and some water during the growing season.

Once established, they are drought-tolerant but can rot if overwatered. These native bulbs thrive alongside wildflowers with similar needs, such as Columbia lilies and Pacific bleeding heart.

Mission Bells

Mission bells are smaller native wildflowers than the spotted fritillary and checker lily, producing maroon-brown flowers on shorter stems. Their yellow stamens and pistils stand out against the reddish petals, which sometimes have yellow markings near the flower’s center. These California native plants tolerate drought better than other fritillaria species.

The variety ‘Martha Roderick’ is particularly striking, with brownish-orange flowers and white centers. Grow mission bells in conditions similar to chaparral or dry grassland ecosystems.

Chocolate Lily

Chocolate lilies live up to their name with deep brown bell-shaped flowers that resemble dark chocolate. Despite their appealing appearance, they emit a foul odor, attracting pollinating flies in the same way carrion flowers do.

This wildflower is best suited to gardeners with a strong stomach! Native to the Pacific Northwest, Japan, and Siberia, chocolate lilies thrive with low summer moisture, spring or fall rains, and well-draining, humus-rich soil. Apply compost to the site as they go dormant in summer or fall, and again as they emerge in spring.

Fox’s Grape Fritillary

Fox’s grape fritillary stands out with its brown-maroon petals and yellow tips, which curl into a distinctive bell shape. Each stalk can bear between one and seven flowers, making them a perfect addition to cottage-style, pollinator, or backyard gardens.

Originating from Turkey and Iran, this variety prefers cold winters and warm, sunny springs with occasional rainfall. Water them as they sprout and flower, allowing the soil to dry between waterings. Fox’s grape fritillary is hardy in cool winter regions but struggles in extreme heat.

Crown Imperial

The crown imperial is one of the most iconic species of Fritillaria, with numerous cultivated varieties. Its tall stalks can reach up to three feet, topped with clusters of yellow, orange, or red flowers that dangle from the upper stems. Above these flowers sits a crown of leaves, giving it the name “crown imperial.” Like the chocolate lily, the crown imperial releases a pungent, unpleasant odor while blooming, so it’s best to plant it away from entryways if you’re sensitive to the scent.

As a long-time favorite among gardeners, crown imperial has inspired plant breeders to create new varieties every year to meet commercial demand. Notable varieties include ‘Chopin’ for red-orange flowers, ‘Vivaldi’ for soft yellow-peach blooms, and ‘Lutea’ for vibrant yellow flowers.

Snake’s Head Fritillary

The snake’s head fritillary is easily recognized by its distinctive purple-and-white checkered petals, making it a striking feature in ornamental gardens, similar to the crown imperial. Above these blooms grow thin, bending leaves that resemble the head of a snake.

The bulbs sprout in early spring, then go dormant in summer and remain that way through late winter. Each bulb produces more bulbs underground, while pollinated flowers aboveground spread seeds, resulting in small, deciduous clusters after a few years, with multiple flowering stems. Allow these bulbs to naturalize, or transplant them to new locations as they go dormant.

Pointed Petal Fritillary

The pointed petal fritillary lives up to its name with its striking red interior petals and yellow outer petals that curve at the tips, creating a pointed effect. The plant’s narrow, irregular leaves run along its delicate stems, giving it a charming woodland appearance.

This species blooms in spring, with its flowers developing into seed pods by summer, while the foliage remains until autumn’s cold. Plant the bulbs four times their length deep into the soil in fall or spring and water well. The plant will return annually and form clusters of flowering stalks as it multiplies underground.

Lebanese Fritillary

The Lebanese fritillary is among the most cold-tolerant of Fritillaria species, able to withstand freezing temperatures. Its native range extends from Turkey to Lebanon, where winters are cool and dry, making it well-suited for USDA zones 3 through 8. Lebanese fritillary bulbs store energy during harsh weather, making them ideal for rock gardens, sunny borders, or pollinator gardens in full sun.

This species produces tubular flowers with brown-purple and green-yellow stripes, and it remains low to the ground, with thin, lance-shaped leaves growing around its stems. Pair Lebanese fritillary with other cold-hardy species for a display of varied colors, heights, and textures.

Michael’s Flower

Michael’s flower is similar to fox’s grape fritillary, with similar petal colors, but its blossoms are more open, with pointed tips at the ends of each petal. This species has strong, hardy bulbs that sprout short stems and small leaves, but the flowers are large and striking. Ideal for alpine or rock gardens, Michael’s flower thrives in locations with full sun and well-drained soil.

It requires minimal water during the growing season, especially when the soil has fully dried. This drought-tolerant species also adapts well to containers, provided the soil is loose and porous.