| Crown imperial | ||||||||||||||
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| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
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| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Fritillaria imperialis L. |
The Crown imperial or Kaiser's Crown (Fritillaria imperialis) is a member of the genus Fritillaria, family Liliaceae. It is native to Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey and the Himalaya region. It is one of the earliest plants to be cultivated. It grows to about 1 meter (3 feet) in height, and bears lance shaped, glossy leaves, at intervals along the stem. It bears a prominent whorl of downward facing flowers at the top of the stem. The flower whorl is topped by a 'crown' of small leaves, hence the name. While the wild form is usually red flowered, various colours are found in cultivation, ranging through the reds, oranges, and yellows. The pendulous flowers make a bold statement in the garden and the odor scares away mice, moles, and other rodents. In the northern hemisphere, flowering takes place in late April or May. Due to the way that the bulb is formed, it is best to plant it on its side, to prevent water causing rot in the depression at the top of the bulb. Fritillaria requires full sun for best growth. After flowering and complete drying of the leaves, the stems should be cut off just above the ground.
 Crown imperial at Keukenhof Gardens, Lisse, Netherlands. |
 The crown imperial is a native of the Nochiya region in the Middle East |
