Crown Imperial Flowers
Crown imperial plants are native to Asia and the Middle East and are hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9. They are distinguished by 1- to 3-foot (30.5-91.5 cm.) tall erect stalks topped with pointed leaves and a circular collection of hanging, bell-shaped flowers. These flowers come in shades of red, orange, and yellow depending upon variety.
The flowers of the Lutea variety are yellow. The flowers of the Aurora, Prolifer, and Aureomarginata are all an orange/red color. Rubra Maxima has bright red blossoms.
While beautiful and interesting, crown imperial flowers have an added dimension that’s good or bad, depending upon who you are: they have a strong, musky scent about them, a bit like a skunk. This is good for keeping rodents out of your garden bed, which everyone likes. It’s also a smell that gardeners tend to love or hate. If you’re sensitive to strong scents, it might be a good idea to smell a mature crown imperial before planting your own and possibly setting yourself up for a bad time.
How to Grow Crown Imperial Plants
As with other fritillaria bulbs, crown imperial fritillaria should be planted in autumn for mid-spring blooms. At 4 inches (10 cm.) wide, crown imperial bulbs are unusually large. They are also prone to rot, so make sure to plant them in very well-drained soil. Grainy sand or perlite are good materials to plant into. Start the bulbs on their sides to further reduce the risk of rot. Bury them 5 inches (12 cm.) deep in the autumn in an area that will receive full sun in the spring. At full maturity, the plants will spread 8 to 12 inches (20.5-30.5 cm.) wide. The plants can be vulnerable to rust and leaf spot but are very good at repelling pests. Once established, Fritillaria imperialis care is minimal.
