The Crown Imperial (Fritillaria imperialis) with its various subspecies originates mainly from Persia and certain parts of Turkey. It has been cultivated in European gardens for centuries because of its magnificent flowers and is considered an important part of a biological defense against voles.

The Imperial Crown is planted in late summer and flowers the following spring

In what form are imperial crowns available for the garden?

The bulbs of the imperial crown are usually offered in specialist shops, because with them (in contrast to growing from seeds) you can hope for a flower with the characteristic yellow or orange calyxes as early as the following year. If you form several specimens of the plants, which grow around one meter high, in a group, this is usually particularly attractive from a visual point of view.

Which location is ideal for the imperial crown?

The imperial crown prefers locations with a lot of sunlight, but also tolerates light shade. It is important to have a place with permeable or loosened soil, as the bulbs can easily rot if there is persistent waterlogging in the soil and then only bloom to a limited extent.

What should be considered when planting the imperial crown?

When planting the bulbs, pay attention to:

  • loose soil or a sand drainage layer in the planting hole
  • a sufficient planting depth of about 20 to 30 centimeters
  • a slight slanting of the bulbs against water residue on the flattened top

Given the right conditions, imperial crowns are relatively easy to care for provided they are given adequate water and nutrients and are not transplanted too often.

Can the imperial crown also be grown from seed?

Crown imperial can also be grown from the seeds that form in the large seed pods after flowering. However, you must not cut off the withered inflorescences immediately, but must wait for the seeds to ripen. Propagation by sowing is particularly interesting if you want to cross certain subspecies of the imperial crown yourself and breed your own colors.

What is the easiest way to multiply the imperial crown?

Since the young plants grown from seed take several years to flower for the first time, imperial crowns are usually propagated by separating the onions that form automatically anyway. Older specimens are simply carefully dug out of the ground between July and September in order to then replant the individual bulbs in appropriately prepared planting holes.

When is the best time to plant the imperial crown?

The best time to plant crown imperial bulbs is between July and September, as the energies of the plants gradually withdraw into the bulb after flowering in spring. Planting as early as possible allows the bulbs to take root well in the new location before they hibernate in the ground. When sowing in open ground, seeds are sown before winter or stratified accordingly, since they only enter the germination phase after a cold spell.

When does the imperial crown bloom?

Depending on the location and the weather, the perennial inflorescences of the imperial crown appear in April or May. These are particularly impressive in the garden bed when they are surrounded by neighbors who are slightly shorter and bloom sooner or later.

tips and tricks

After flowering, only the uppermost parts of the withering flower stalks on the imperial crowns should be removed. Leave the lower parts with the leaves until they wither by themselves. In this way, the plants can store a maximum of energy in the bulbs for the next vegetation period.

Category:

Vegetable garden