Fritillaria persica

A hardy, spring-blooming bulbous perennial with a strong presence. Upright stems showcase lanceolate leaves, reaching up to 25 cm in length, with a distinctive glaucous to grey-green hue. In spring, clusters of up to 30 slender, bell-shaped flowers emerge in racemes, displaying a rich palette from deep purple to brown.Fritillaria persica, commonly known as Persian Lily, is a striking perennial bulb known for its tall spires of bell-shaped, dark purple to almost black flowers. Thriving in well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade, this elegant plant adds a bold architectural element to garden beds and borders. Perfect for cottage gardens, rock gardens, or naturalistic planting schemes, Fritillaria persica blooms in spring and makes an excellent cut flower. Its unique color and shape make it a standout choice for gardeners seeking something unusual and eye-catching. Deer and rabbit resistant.

Found wild in Iran and Turkey, these plants can grow up to 1 meter tall, with up to 30 reddish-brown, conical flowers with green spots clustered at the top of the stem. After the stems turn yellow, the bulbs are dug up annually and stored at a temperature of 30-35°C (86-95°F) – only bulbs kept in this manner will produce flowers. They propagate vegetatively well. In gardens, larger varieties such as ‘Adiyaman,’ ‘Sonkoy,’ and the rare ‘Ivory Bell’ with ivory-colored flowers are grown.