Crown imperial

Fritillaria imperialis

Plants of Home and Garden

Ideally, sow seed immediately when ripe, and takes months or years to sprout. If planting is delayed, expect a double dormancy: give seeds 3 months in fridge, 3 months at 70F/21C, another 3 in fridge, and grow on at 70F/21C. Sow barely covered, deep, fertile, sandy soil. Good drainage and ample moisture essential; protect from full sun. Takes years to flower from seed. Transplants poorly. Zone 3-9

Set bulbs 6" deep, about 8" apart, in early fall. Plants may be propagated by bulb scaling, planting individual scales off a bulb, each with part of the basal plate still attached, in sandy medium, with tips just above the surface