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The Guinea Hen Flower "Fritillaria meleagris"

Regular price $17.99

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Fritillaria meleagris - The Guinea Hen Flower with Checkered Bell-Shaped Blooms (Pre-Order for Fall Planting)

Introducing Fritillaria meleagris, also known as The Guinea Hen Flower, The Checkered Lily, or The Snake’s Head Fritillary. This heirloom species, dating back to 1575, is a charming addition to any garden, featuring pendant, bell-shaped flowers with a unique checkered and veined pattern. The blooms come in shades of maroon or ivory-white, accompanied by grass-like foliage intermittently spaced on its slender stems. Fritillaria meleagris is a deer- and rodent-resistant naturalizer that thrives in rich, well-draining soil with neutral pH, and it flourishes in light shade or dappled sunlight.

Why Choose Fritillaria meleagris?

  • Unique Checkered Blooms: The distinctive checkered and veined patterns on the maroon or ivory-white flowers make Fritillaria meleagris a truly unique and eye-catching addition to your garden.
  • Heirloom Species: Dating back to 1575, this historical plant adds a touch of timeless beauty and charm to any landscape.
  • Deer and Rodent Resistant: As a naturalizer, Fritillaria meleagris is resistant to deer and rodents, making it a reliable choice for gardens with wildlife concerns.
  • Versatile and Hardy: Native to the western Himalayas and Asia Minor, this species thrives in rich, well-draining soil and prefers a bit of light shade or dappled sunlight.
  • Elegant Naturalizer: Fritillaria meleagris is perfect for naturalizing in woodland gardens, borders, or mixed plantings, where it adds a graceful and understated beauty.

Planting Information:

  • Bulb Size: 6 cm/up
  • Bloom Time: April/May
  • Height: Grows to a height of 10” to 12”
  • Sunlight: Thrives in full to partial sunlight
  • Soil Requirements: Prefers rich, well-draining soil with neutral pH
  • Planting Depth: Plant bulbs 5” to 6” deep and 5” to 6” apart
  • Hardiness Zones: Suitable for zones 3-8

Pre-Order Information: Pre-order your Fritillaria meleagris bulbs now to ensure they arrive in time for fall planting.

Add the timeless beauty and unique charm of Fritillaria meleagris to your garden. With its distinctive checkered blooms and reliable performance, this plant promises to be a standout feature in your landscape for years to come.

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Matt's Patch offers a carefully curated selection of plants, seeds, seedlings, and produce. Our focus is on providing good food and easy-to-grow vegetable and flower varieties for both novice and experienced gardeners.

If we sell it - we've grown it - and this allows us to offer variety specific growing advice and cut plants from our selection that don't meet our standards. Check out the Garden Graveyard for a list of varieties we no longer offer.

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Plants want to grow. At Matt's Patch, we're committed to getting you from seed to sprout, plant to produce, and bulb to bloom.

To ensure the best gardening experience for all our growers we offer a money-back guarantee on all live plants if damaged in shipping, check-ins tailored to your growing zone, and a curated selection of the easiest-to-grow varieties.

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The first step to your gardening success is timing. To ensure you receive the healthiest plants and bulbs and have the absolute best chances at success, most of our products are available for pre-order and ship out according to your growing zone.

Seeds ship year-round.

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