The crown imperial (Fritillaria imperialis) has been valued as a garden plant for centuries because of its magnificent flowers. However, the plant also has an interesting side effect on beauty in the garden, namely as a biological weapon in the fight against pesky moles and voles.

With the help of the imperial crown, the cute vole can be kept away without any chemicals

The smell has a deterrent effect on greedy rodents

When eating the leaves and especially the onions, the imperial crown has a poisonous effect on humans and also on various animal species. This is probably also the reason why the imperial crown warns potential pests of its poison with an intense smell of cat urine. Since voles and moles often cause great damage under a blanket of snow, imperial crowns are particularly well suited as biological defence. After all, the hardy bulbs of the imperial crown, which are planted at a depth of about 20 centimeters, remain in the ground all year round and can thus develop their smell, which has a disturbing effect on rodents.

No guarantee against voles

Some hobby or even professional gardeners may complain, not entirely without reason, that the crown imperial is not directly a silver bullet when it comes to repelling voles. On the one hand, there is no absolute guarantee that rodents will not stay away from the flower bed with crown imperials in it, and on the other hand, the effect of the smell of crown imperials is very limited locally. Crown imperials can only be used effectively as a protective barrier against voles if you multiply the plants in large numbers and distribute them as extensively as possible in the garden or along the fence.

The sensible use of the imperial crown as a vole deterrent

Even if the Kaiserkrone may be more limited in its effectiveness against voles than special poisoned baits or snap traps, in any case this method is not only legal and humane, but also completely biological. When planting as a flowering plant and vole deterrent in the garden, you should consider the following points if possible:

  • Spatial distribution of single or grouped imperial crowns in the flower beds
  • Choose a sunny location without the risk of waterlogging
  • Combination with plants that flower at different times and at different heights

Certain roots, tubers and bulbs often attract voles in the garden almost magically. Protect these vole delicacies from being attacked by rodents by selectively transplanting them with a few Crown Imperials.

tips and tricks

Since the imperial crown slowly withers after the flowering period until autumn, you should cover its base with other medium-tall plants in the bed.

Category:

Vegetable garden