Description
This is one of the so-called “adobe” or “field” Fritillaria native to California where it is increasingly under threat from agriculture. In the wild it grows in heavy clay soils and where it does grow it is especially found near the coast.
It makes an elongated bulb (with no tunic) and these derive protection in summer from the heavy soils in which it grows which prevent water loss and extreme heat. In cultivation is does NOT want hot and dry, these conditions do not happen in nature and in cultivation it needs careful management to straddle the need for ripening against the need to preserve water in the bulbs. It is not difficult but neither is it one for the novice grower.
Pot culture is essential in the UK but the reward for good cultivation and repotting in sterilised, well-drained, fertile, loam-based compost every season, is a prostrate tuft of shiny green leaves at soil level and a 25cm tall stem bearing up to three, hanging, but wide-open, 2cm bells of creamy white (shaded with green). These are delightfully fragrant.
