The checkerboard flower with its interestingly patterned flowers is one of the most popular early bloomers. From the end of March until well into May, it adorns the garden with its blossoms. But how hardy is the delicate plant?
The checkered flower is absolutely hardy
Surprisingly hardy and frost-resistant
The natural range of the chess flower extends from Europe to Siberia. The plant has adapted optimally to the often very harsh winters here and tolerates temperatures down to -30 degrees. It can therefore be overwintered in the flower bed without protection and proves to be extremely robust.
Onion Survivor
In its natural home, the chess flower has to withstand extreme conditions. Through its storage organ, the onion, it has adapted perfectly to it. During the vegetation period, the checkered flower stores nutrients and starch in the bulb, which enable it to sprout early. It is therefore very important not to cut back too early the foliage that has become unsightly over time. The uncompetitive plant sprouts quickly in spring and goes through the cycle very quickly until fruiting.
Snow acts like a warm blanket
Even at low outside temperatures, the bulbs lying under the ground are well protected. Not only the snow cover, but also the top, frozen centimeters of the ground offer the bulbs excellent protection against frost, so that special winter protection is actually not necessary. If you want to be absolutely sure that the plant survives the winter well, you can still cover the bed with a layer of leaves, humus or brushwood.
More dangerous than frost: drought
The chess flower is extremely sensitive to drought, even in winter. If there is no snow and the temperatures are below zero (freezing), the bulbs cannot absorb any water from the frozen ground. The snow cover, which also serves as a moisture reservoir, is missing. Therefore, you should also water the hardy checkerboard flower on these days. However, use very cold water so that the plant is not stimulated to sprout prematurely.
tips
If you care for the attractive plant in the flower pot, it is important to offer the plant as uniform conditions as possible during the cold season. Frequent changes in temperature must be avoided at all costs. We recommend a dark, very cool winter quarters, for example in an unheated garden shed. (€24.90)