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Get ready for some flower drama

March 26, 2014 By Jill Anderson 2 Comments

 

Summer flowering bulbs are such an asset in a garden, they pop up every year and need little attention. Fritillaria imperialis or crown imperial, is the showiest of all the fritillaries, strictly speaking it’s a late spring/early summer flowerer, but let’s not quibble.

It’s at least a metre high with splendid bell-shaped flowers, arranged under a shock of mid-green leaves. 

 

Fritillaria imperiallis Lutea flower, Crown Imperila,

 

How to grow them

Plant it in a sunny place that has rich, fertile soil, the soil has to be well-drained because it hates sitting in wet soil. It has a musky, earthy sort of smell which some people don’t like, so it’s often planted away from paths.

Plant them in a group of at least three, odd numbers always look better, or more if you have a large garden, in September or October. Then simply add a thick layer of mulch to the surrounding soil in early spring. The bees love the flowers too.

There’s also one with orange flowers: Fritillaria Aurora, or rusty/red ones: Fritillaria Rubra, and it looks much nicer if the group is all the same colour.

Avon bulbs sell them by mail order, you can register here and they’ll let you know when they’re available.

There’s a recent post here, about another summer flowering bulb, probably my favourite, that has wonderful scent.

Do you have a favourite summer flowering bulb?

Jill

image: Jill Anderson

Related posts:

Fritilleria imperialis Lutea How to make a good looking garden hyacinth flowers, www.growingnicely.co.ukThe best time to plant spring flowering bulbs Friday Inspiration, autumn flowers.

Related posts:

Fritilleria imperialis Lutea How to make a good looking garden hyacinth flowers, www.growingnicely.co.ukThe best time to plant spring flowering bulbs Friday Inspiration, autumn flowers.
Filed Under: Blog, Plants Tagged With: crown imperial., Fritillaria imperialis Lutea, yellow flowers

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Comments

  1. Evelyn Jelley says

    April 26, 2015 at 12:39 pm

    I’ve grown the Lutea maxima for the first time this year – and love it! Should I cut down the stem once the yellow flowers have died off and turned white? If so where do I cut it down to do I cut it down to ? – or should I just leave it to die down naturally?

    Reply
    • Jill Anderson says

      April 27, 2015 at 12:01 pm

      It’s a fabulous plant! As with all bulbs,cut the flower spike down near the base when it’s finished flowering.

      Reply

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Hello, I’m Jill Anderson.
This is where you’ll find good, solid information about gardening, growing fruit & vegetables and how to keep it all looking good.
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The healing, calming power of nature in one photo. The healing, calming power of nature in one photo.
These wonderful autumn colours won’t be around for much longer. But that’s ok, because now is what matters, & their fleeting beauty makes them even more precious.
It’s easy to see how being among trees & nature is so beneficial for our health & wellbeing. 
Have a great Sunday.
Savouring all the autumn colour, & doesn’t it lo Savouring all the autumn colour, & doesn’t it look spectacular with this bold front door.
Today has been hard work, after a lovely time last week in Norfolk. The north coast there is spectacular. Realising these last few months, that there are so many beautiful places here. 
Have a nice evening.
Charming glasshouse at Houghton Hall, Norfolk. Vis Charming glasshouse at Houghton Hall, Norfolk. Visiting to see the Anish Kapoor sculptures, which are amazing, but unprepared for the beauty of the grounds & garden. 
Such a treat, worth coming to Norfolk for this alone!
Hope you’re keeping well, & managing to smile some of the time. x
P.S. more of Houghton Hall & Anish Kapoor on my stories
We stopped off on the way home to pick blackberrie We stopped off on the way home to pick blackberries, after coffee & cake, sitting in the churchyard - the cafe was full, & the churchyard is a quiet, peaceful spot..... as you’d expect.
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One little advantage of lockdown is walking so much more, rather than using the car. Though it shouldn’t have taken something as momentous as this, for me to change bad habits 🙁
Hope you’re weekend is going well.
My hazel arch, a bit lopsided 🙄 using wood from My hazel arch, a bit lopsided 🙄 using wood from a random clump of hazel on the garden. Now looking much better covered in winter squash plants, so you can’t see just how ramshackle it is. I like to think it has a certain home-spun charm .

Great for small space gardening, imagine how much room you need to grow these without vertical supports.

I’ve got 2 Uchiki kuri, lovely nutty flavour.
1 Turks turban, for its flamboyant shape & colours, though it also tastes good.
One unknown, grown by my grandsons in their homeschooled science lesson.
Close-ups of the squash over on my stories.
Stay cool my friends x
I wanted to show you this lovely lily ( Lilium reg I wanted to show you this lovely lily ( Lilium regale) which is flowering right outside our bedroom window. 
It gets sun for about 4 hours only, you can order the bulbs now for planting in September. It’ll reappear every year & waft delicious scent around your garden, or through your windows.
Have a very happy Monday x
It’s British Flower Week, there’s a lot to be It’s British Flower Week, there’s a lot to be said for fabulous seasonal flowers that haven’t travelled thousands of miles ...... & are wonderful for biodiversity
A bit of rain, nice long days (it’s almost mid-s A bit of rain, nice long days (it’s almost mid-summer!) & it’s, mostly, all growing nicely.

Spinach, courgettes & garlic in shot here. 
Enjoy the rest of your Sunday x
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I’ve thought long & hard about how to view the tumult in the world we’re living in now. 
The only thing that works for me, is to choose hope.

It’s a tall order, but avoiding mainstream news & speculation helps avoid the anxiety, that’s often waiting in the wings.

One day soon there’ll be grandchildren clambering over this again.
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