Scientific Name:
Fritillaria meleagris
Pronunciation:
frit-ih-LAIR-ee-uh mell-ee-AY-griss
Common Name:
checkered lily, Guinea hen flower, snake's head fritillary
Family Name:
Liliaceae
Plant Type:
Herbaceous perennial
Key ID Features:
Leaves grass-like, 4-6 widely-spaced on the stems, linear to narrowly lanceolate, most 8-15cm long x 1-2cm wide (die back in summer as capsules ripen); flowers nodding, 3-4cm long x 2-3cm wide, 6 tepals, 6 stamens, checkered reddish-brown, purple, white, or grey; capsules erect, 3-lobed, 1-2cm long.
Habit:
Upright
Form:
Weeping
Texture:
Medium - fine
Mature Height:
0.2 - 0.4m
Mature Spread:
< 0.1m
Growth Rate:
Fast
Origin:
Central / west Asia, Europe
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 4: (-34 to -29 °C)
Exposure:
Part sun/part shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Well-drained
Landscape Uses:
Perennial border, Rock garden, Spring interest (Caution: poisonous parts)
Additional Info:
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple, Grass-like
Arrangement:
Alternate
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible, Parallel venation
Surfaces:
Glabrous
Colour in Summer:
Green, Silver / Grayish
Colour in Fall:
Yellow
Shapes:
Lanceolate, Linear
Apices:
Acute
Bases:
Decurrent, Truncate
Margins:
Entire
Inflorescence Type:
Flowers solitary
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
6
Corolla Shape:
Campanulate
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
Showy, White, Purple, Dark-red (checkered or all white as with F. 'Alba')
Flower Time at Peak:
Apr
Additional Info:
Sometimes 2 or 3 per plant
Fruit Type:
Capsule
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
May
Additional Info:
Not showy
Bark or Stem Colour:
Green
Organ Modifications:
Bulbs
Maintenance:
Low
Pest Susceptibility:
(Pest resistant, Disease resistant, Deer resistant, Rabbit resistant)
Course(s):
- not used (on campus)
Location(s):
- (BCE) Boulevard (Circular) Eastend : labyrinth
- (GAZ) GAZebo
- (GAZE) GAZebo East
- (MCF) Main Courtyard Fountain