Plant and care for the imperial crown (flower)

Plant the flower

The imperial crown (Fritillaria imperialis) and its close relative, the checkerboard flower (Fritillaria meleagris), belong to us Tulips to the lily plants.

The best time to plant an imperial crown is August or September. the Onions have time until winter to grow in and form roots. Depending on the variety, the flowers grow over a meter high. It is best to place the bulbs in the back of the beds so that smaller plants with flowers are not covered.

Choose a sunny spot because the plant will produce fewer flowers in the shade. The soil should be well drained, otherwise the onions will rot. If you have very dense soil in your garden, mix in some sand so that the rainwater drains off faster.

Dig a hole 25 centimeters deep for the large onion of the imperial crown. Put it upright, with the roots down, and fill it with the excavated earth.

Care of the imperial crown

The flowering time of the imperial crown begins in April or May, depending on the weather and location. Cut off dead stems. Be sure to let the foliage stand until it is completely withered. The plant uses its leaves to store nutrients in its bulb that it needs for the winter and the following year.

Supply your flower with compost, Horn shavings or another fertilizer, because it needs a lot of nutrients so that it blooms diligently. If the weather is very dry in spring, you need to water the imperial crown regularly. It needs a lot of water, especially at the time of flowering.

In winter, the onions stay in the garden. If possible, they should not be moved and if they are not disturbed, they can get very old. Over the years, they bloom more and more diligently.

The Imperialis during the year

Care of the imperial crown
month	measure
August	Resting phase, best planting time, dividing the bulbs when propagation.
September to February	No maintenance required.
March	Watering when dry.
March April	After the first shoot fertilizer Distribute around the plants and work into the soil. If necessary, water and collect pests.
April May	Cut off what has faded. Collect pests.
May June	Fertilize at the end of flowering. Collect pests.
July August	Remove dead leaves.

By the way, the imperial crown is supposed to keep voles out of the garden. In case you have problems with these rodents, place one of the bulbs next to the plants you want to protect. However, you should not rely on the protective effect.