YouGarden Fritillaria Orange 'Crown Imperial' Bulbs

Also known as Fritillaria imperialis, this stately 'Crown Imperial' is a must have for your garden this spring time. It get its name from the facinating whorl of leaves on the top of the bright orange, striking blooms that look like a crown. 'Crown Imperial' has a unique and usuaful fragrance that repels moles, mice, and other rodents. Perfect for early season and tough, hardy colour in mixed borders. Fully deserving its coveted RHS Award of Garden Merit, you can be sure that this is a proven garden performer, guaranteed to be suitable for UK gardeners at every level of experience. You can therefore plant this in the garden with confidence, for stunning displays for many years to come. Very easy to grow, after the psring season and the blooms have faded, just leave in the ground to naturalise and get bigger and better displays every year. Features and Benefits Highly unusual, stately spring plant that makes a real impact in April and May Bright orange, striking blooms with an impressive whorl of leaves on top Crown Imperials unique fragrance repels moles, mice and other rodents Leave in the ground to naturalise and get bigger and better displays every year Specifications Supplied as a pack on 2 bulbs, size 20/24 ready to plant out in autumn. Availability: September to December Planting time: September to December Flowering time: April to May Model Number: 630040 Top Tips Plant bulbs on their sides to help to avoid water collecting in their hollow crowns and prevent the bulbs from rotting. Fritillaria plants resent being dig up and moved so for best results plant where they will remain. Care Information Planting Advice: Plant 30cm (12in) deep from September to November in fertile, well-drained soil, and keep an eye out for slug and snail damage when the new foliage is emerging in spring. Plants benefit from early morning sun then light shade in the afternoon. Avoid heavy clay or anywhere where water sits. Heavy soil can be improved with the addition of sharp sand or horticultural grit. Add 1cm (½ in) of course sand to the planting hole before placing the bulbs pointed end up.  Aftercare Advice: When growing fritillaries, it is essential to allow their foliage to die back naturally as this will feed the bulb for the following year. During their dormant period the soil should be kept almost dry to prevent the bulbs from rotting. Begin watering sparingly as the bulbs start back into active growth. After flowering has finished, trim off spent blossoms. The stalks will dry and then can be removed.  Trimming Advice for Fritillaries: Leave stems to turn brown before trimming back to the base. This will ensure that nutrients have been returned to the bulb for next season.