WHAT: Fritillaria imperialis, also known as Fritillaria Crown Imperial, towers over other perennials at 3 to 4 feet. It blooms early in the spring with a very showy vertical display of lance-shaped ...

Is it a crown? Is it a pineapple top? Is it a plant from a Star Trek episode? Whatever it reminds you of, one thing’s for sure: Nothing looks quite like a crown imperial (Fritillaria imperialis). With ...

Woman covering her nose while sitting in garden - TanyaJoy/Shutterstock Many who see the brightly-colored blooms of the crown imperial (Fritillaria imperialis) fall in love at first sight. These ...

Endemic to a wide stretch from Anatolia across the plateau of Iran, southwestern province of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, to Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Himalayan foothills, crown imperial is a ...

There are daffodils and tulips. Then there are fritillarias. Even the fancy-sounding name (more on the etymology in a minute) tells you that something special is going on with these fall-planted, ...

It’s time again for that annual fall ritual that brings gardeners to their knees — planting bulbs for spring bloom. Despite the reverent posture required, prayers are seldom needed to ensure success.

Spring is finally here! It seems everywhere you look, something new is popping its head above the ground or opening up to say hello. My garden at home and here at Minnetrista are waking up and being ...

It bears a prominent whorl of downward facing flowers at the top of the stem, topped by a 'crown' of small leaves, hence the plant’s name.