A medium size plant bearing 1-2 bell-shaped, pendant flowers per plant. The petals have a checkered pattern.
Pronunciation
(frit-il-AR-ee-uh)
Plant Type
All Plants, Bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizoms, etc.
Sunlight
full sun to shade
Moisture
prefers moist
Soil & Site
Native to moist meadows and woods in Europe.
Flowers
The bell shaped flowers seem rather large for the plant. They are pendant, with a checked pattern (tessellate) on the petals. Color ranges from deep purple to white. A 1999 White Flower Farm catalog describes the flowers as "winsome, charming and unusual"
Leaves
The narrow leaves are alternate and rather sparse.
Dimensions
The plant size ranges from 6"-12" tall. Plant 5" deep and 5-10 plants per square foot.
Propagation
bulbs
Native Site
Native to moist meadows and woods in Europe.
Cultivar Origin
A heirloom bulb in cultivation since 1572.
Misc Facts
The species name meleagris is taken from the Greek word for Guinea Hen.
Notes & Reference
#57-Spring Flowering Bulbs (Dr. A.A. DeHertogh), #59-Naturalizing Bulbs (Rob Proctor), #60-The American Gardeners World of Bulbs (Judy Glattstein