How to Plant a Fritillaria Bulb

Choose a site that drains water well and is exposed to full sunlight in the morning and shade or partial shade in the afternoon. Some fritillaria varieties, such as “Crown Imperial,” can be planted in sandy soil conditions, as well as in rock gardens.

Plant fritillarias at a slight angle and so the bottoms are 5 inches deep. The tops are pointy and the bottoms may have fleshy roots growing from them. Space bulbs 2 to 7 inches apart, depending on the variety.

Fill in the spaces or rings in the bulbs with sand so water does not accumulate, which may cause the bulbs to rot.

Pack the soil lightly over top of the fritillaria bulbs and water them with 1 inch of water. Add a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch in climates where the bulbs are barely hardy, which varies among cultivars.