The Fritillaria Group
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    • Fritillaria species: A
    • Fritillaria species B - C
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FRITILLARIA SPECIES: B - C


Each species has been assigned a Cultivation Group, either A, B, C, or D. To view descriptions of these groups, click on Cultivation Groups or scroll to the bottom of this page where they are repeated.

Fritillaria baskilensis
Sorry, we have no photo of this species. Could you provide one?

Fritillaria biflora This grows near the coast of California in clay soils at low altitude but enjoys coastal fog through much of the summer so remains cool but dry underground. 

Cultivation
Group: A, but keep cool and dry in summer.

Fritillaria biflora var. ineziana (= Fritillaria grayana). Another coastal species related to both Fritillaria biflora and Fritillaria liliacea and very like an intermediate between them.  The white blotch on most forms is characteristic but by no means found in all populations.

Cultivation Group: A This is one of the easier Californians to cultivate.


Fritillaria bithynica Native to the west coastal area of Turkey and the adjacent Aegean islands.  Note the conical green bells with a long thin undivided style.  Usually the uppermost leaves are in a whorl of three but some forms, known as Fritillaria pineticola have only one bract leaf.

Cultivation Group: A

Fritillaria brandegeei This rarely seen, elegant species is confined to the southern Sierra Nevada of California. 

Cultivation Group: A. It does not seem to persist in cultivation for long

Fritillaria bucharica

Cultivation Group: A or B. This is easily grown.

Fritillaria byfieldii This narrow endemic to Boz Dag in SW Turkey is a scree plant but is not in cultivation.
Sorry, we have no photo of this species. Could you provide one?

Fritillaria camschatcensis From coastal areas around the Pacific rim.

Cultivation Group: D. Easily cultivated in peaty soil with shallow planting.

Fritillaria carica .  From the mountains of SW Turkey.  Distinguished from the other yellow flowerd species of the area by the numerous lanceolate leaves and stout, papillose style.  The flower colour can vary from greeny yellow to quite bright yellow. 

Cultivation Group: A

Fritillaria caucasica The long, thin, undivided style serve to recognise this species.  It is native to Eastern Turkey and Transcaucasia usually growing in mountain grassland.

Cultivation Group: B

Fritillaria chitralensis This beautiful little species is like a miniature Fritillaria imperialis with yellow flowers.  It is rare in cultivation but worth seeking out.

Cultivation Group: B

Fritillaria chlorantha Another rarity in cultivation from western Iran where it grows on steep, north-facing, rocky hillsides or in slight shade of oak scrub.

Cultivation Group: B

Fritillaria chlororhabdota A close relative of Fritillaria caucasica from western Iran which is not widely cultivated.

Cultivation Group: B

Fritillaria cirrhosa A large complex of species from much of China growing in alpine scrub, thickets and forest.  It has few linear leaves which are opposite and often coiled at the apex.  The upper leaves are usually in a whorl of three. 

Cultivation Group: D

Fritillaria collina This Caucasian beauty grows in alpine turf which is dominated by large herbs in the summer but never dry. 

Cultivation Group: B, but kept slightly moist and cool in summer. Not easy to cultivate.

Fritillaria conica A rare and endangered species from the southern Peloponnese.

Cultivation Group: A

Fritillaria crassicaulis From Yunnan and Sichuan.  Recognised by its combination of one large greenish flower with slight brown tessellation and shading, and its numerous, rather wide flat leaves in whorls or pairs.

Cultivation Group: D

Fritillaria crassifolia This is a scree dweller with a wide distribution through southern Turkey, across the Anatolian diagonal to NE Turkey.  Note the long linear nectary, greeny flowers and the 4 broad glaucous leaves.

Cultivation Group: A or B. Easy to cultivate

  • Fritillaria species: A     
  • Fritillaria species: B - C
  • Fritillaria species: D - F
  • Fritillaria species: G - L
  • Fritillaria species: M - N
  • Fritillaria species: O - P
  • Fritillaria species: R - S
  • Fritillaria species: T - Z
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Cultivation Groups

Group A


Those from a Mediterranean-type climate zone at low to medium altitude. The major precipitation is during the winter and early spring but the summer is dry.  The bulbs are dormant in summer but often protected from the heat of direct sunlight by tall herbs, shade of trees or by coastal fog.

It is worth trying these in well-drained soil in the open garden but unless your climate is Mediterranean in character, dryness in the summer will usually need to be contrived by overhead protection or planting amongst established, deciduous, shrub or tree roots.  These species tend to be straightforward to grow in pots with summer dryness.  In the northern hemisphere, watering is best started sparingly from mid-September, increasing once the shoots appear until dormancy sets in in May.

 Group B

Those from high altitude and/or inland sites. 
The major soil moisture in this case is provided by melting snow in the spring and, although occasional thunder storms may occur, the summers tend to be dry but not so hot.  In winter the soil is normally covered in snow so the temperature and soil water content is constant for what can be 5 or 6 months of winter during which little growth occurs.

These are normally more difficult in the open garden but can be grown in gritty compost in pots in a cold greenhouse with watering as above.  Some benefit from refrigeration in winter in order to maintain dormancy.

 Group C

Semi Desert plants.  These are from inland sites with cold dry winters, some snowfall, spring snowmelt, and then very dry summers.


In most countries these are not suitable for outdoor cultivation but they grow well in pots in gritty compost under glass.  They are best kept dry until early winter when water can be given sparingly until growth appears in spring.

 Group D

Those from areas with summer rainfall and cool/cold dry winters.  For example, those species from the Himalayas, SW China and NE China, Japan and SE Siberia.
These all grow in fairly cool conditions throughout the year, often under protective shade of shrubs or deciduous trees.  Snow and snowmelt are important but so is summer rainfall.  The main growing season is through spring but root growth can start during the summer, coinciding with the summer rains.

These seem to do quite well in cooler climates grown either in the open garden or in pots of gritty, humus soil, kept outside with perhaps a little protection from excessive winter rain.

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