Fritillaria meleagris - Snake's Head Fritillary

The Fritillaria meleagris, often called the Snake's Head Fritillary, is a plant with a unique charm and a recognisable flower. This small, hardy bulbous plant forms beautiful pendulous checkered bells quite early in the season. It likes moist soils, so it can sometimes be found in wet meadows in spring or under deciduous trees. It is a very perennial plant that naturalises easily. It will faithfully reflower in the garden for many years.

The Snake's Head Fritillary is an endemic European plant, found in both northern Europe (Sweden, Russia, Great Britain) and further west and central in our continent. It is a species in the lily family that is now considered rare and therefore protected in its natural habitat. This plant forms clumps that reach a height of 20 to 40 cm (8 to 16in). Each bulb produces 3 to 5 green-grey, linear, alternate, lanceolate and narrow leaves. Between March and May, it sends up stems bearing solitary flowers, or grouped in 2 or 3, in the form of drooping bells measuring 4 to 5 cm (2in) in diameter. They are purple-pink and printed with a purple and whitish checkered pattern.

The Snake's Head Fritillary is a natural indicator of wet habitats and requires a fresh to moist, fertile, humus-bearing and light soil to thrive. It can be planted in a border, near a pathway, or not far from the terrace, alongside snowdrops and hellebores, to enjoy its exuberant flowering in spring. It will also thrive in a wet rock garden or under deciduous trees and bushes. This species will have a great effect on a short grass meadow.