Fritillaria checkerboards include many species that differ in the shape of inflorescences and their height.
Imperial crown
The most popular and impressive is the imperial crown Fritillaria imperialis. It reaches 70-80 cm in height and has impressive flowers in orange, yellow, red or white. In order for it to take root before winter, it should be planted in September. He likes fertile soil rich in nutrients. It grows best in sunny or slightly shaded positions. In winter, it does not tolerate moisture, so it is important to provide drainage when planting, e.g.in the form of gravel.
Persian checkerboardA very original plant, due to the color of flowers - very dark, almost black - is the Persian checkerboard Fritillaria persica. It produces bell-shaped flowers on a densely leafed stalk up to a meter high. The 'Alba' variety has white flowers.
Pyramid and Siberian checkerboard
Other checkerboards that I have in my garden are low but equally graceful plants. They look best in large clumps, so whenever I buy new bulbs, I add them to the "old" ones. When they bloom, they look really beautiful.Fritillaria acmopetala and Assyrian Fritillaria uva-vulpis like semi-shaded positions and drained soil.
Cube chessboard Fritillaria meleagris likes a very moist substrate (even periodically flooded). It is the only chessboard that occurs naturally in Poland.It has large, bell-shaped, pink and white checkered flowers. They reach up to 3.5 cm in diameter. There is also a white variety with smooth bells.
Anna Witkowska
