Mixed snake's head fritillary (Fritillaria meleagris) — Bulbs, size 6/7
- Regular price
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€27,95 - Regular price
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- Sale price
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€27,95
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Frequently asked questions
Does snake's head fritillary like moist soil? Yes, it grows naturally in damp meadows: moist soil that doesn't dry out in spring suits it, as long as water doesn't stand in winter.
How many fritillary bulbs should go in a pot? Allow 7 to 10 bulbs in a 20 cm diameter pot, planted 8 cm deep, for a pot in flower in April.
Shipping & packaging
Shipped within 24/48 hours via DPD
- Delivery in 2 to 5 working days
- Eco-friendly packaging: recyclable boxes and biodegradable materials
- Special protection so your plant arrives in perfect condition
- Tracking link sent by email as soon as your parcel ships
- Shipping costs and the free-shipping threshold depend on your country — see our delivery page
ZEN ARRIVAL GUARANTEE
We guarantee that your plants will arrive in perfect condition. If your plant arrives damaged or in poor condition:
- Contact us promptly at hello@verdeia.eu with photos
- We will find the right solution for your situation
- No return needed — we trust you
The guarantee covers: damage in transit, plants severely weakened on arrival, and order preparation errors.
CARE TIPS ON ARRIVAL
To help your plant settle in for the long term:
- Unpack your plant immediately and inspect it
- Let it acclimatize for 24-48h in a bright spot out of direct sunlight
- Check the soil moisture before watering (dry surface = light watering)
- Wait 2-3 weeks before repotting, if needed
- Keep it away from heat sources and drafts
- Gently wipe the leaves to remove dust
Need help? Contact our team at hello@verdeia.eu or via chat.
💜 Purple and white checkered bells • 🌱 Compact size, 20 to 30 cm • 🌤️ Blooms from April to May • 🐝 Visited by bumblebees • ☀️ Sun or partial shade • 💧 Likes moist soil • 🧊 Very hardy • 🔁 Naturalizes • 📏 Bulb size 6/7
The snake's head fritillary (Fritillaria meleagris) bears large nodding bells in spring, marked with a regular checkerboard pattern like a guinea fowl's plumage: from April to May, each slender 20 to 30 cm stem carries one or two purple or white flowers above narrow gray-green foliage. The species is native to Europe, from England to western Russia, where it grows in damp meadows and along rivers.
This mix of purples and whites is planted in groups in a lawn, at the edge of a pond or at the foot of shrubs, and comes back every year, gradually self-seeding. Among our flower bulbs, it is the one that copes best with moist soil, where many other bulbs rot.
How many bulbs should you choose?
Snake's head fritillaries make the most impact planted in natural groups: allow about 50 bulbs per square meter, or 7 to 10 bulbs in a 20 cm diameter pot.
- 30 bulbs: about 0.5 m², or three pots on a balcony or terrace.
- 60 bulbs: about 1 m², for the edge of a pond or the base of a tree.
- 120 bulbs: about 2.5 m², for a first flowering meadow in the lawn.
- 240 bulbs: about 5 m², for a true checkered meadow that will fill out year after year.
The larger the pack, the lower the price per bulb: the 240-bulb pack costs less than half the per-bulb price of the 30-bulb pack.
Planting & location
The bulbs are planted from September to November, as long as the ground is not frozen, for flowers from April to May.
- Exposure: sun or partial shade; light shade prolongs flowering and keeps the soil moist.
- Depth: 8 to 10 cm, pointed end up.
- Spacing: 8 to 10 cm between bulbs in the ground; in a pot, 3 to 5 cm is enough.
- Soil type: moist, rich in humus, even clay; it should stay slightly damp in spring, but without standing water in winter.
- Hardiness: down to -30 °C, without protection in the ground, like other cold-hardy plants.
Fritillary bulbs have no protective skin and dry out quickly in the air: plant them within a few days of delivery.
Watering & care
In the ground, rain is enough in most gardens. In pots, the potting mix should stay moist in spring: check the moisture with the finger test before each watering.
- Watering: moderate — at planting, then in spring if the soil dries out, especially in pots during growth and flowering.
- Fertilizer: unnecessary in the ground; in pots, use a bulb fertilizer as the leaves emerge.
- Faded flowers: no need to cut them off; the seeds they form allow the plant to self-seed.
- After flowering: leave the leaves in place to turn yellow for five to six weeks; they replenish the bulb for the following year.
In a lawn, wait until the end of June for the first mowing: the leaves have yellowed and the seeds have dropped.
Decorating ideas & plant pairings
They flower just as well in sun as in partial shade and earn their place among balcony plants suited to every exposure, in pots or planters.
- For a purple and white meadow, mix them with Narcissus 'Thalia' — its fragrant white flowers bloom in April at the same height as the checkered bells.
- For a two-tier bed, plant them above a carpet of Greek anemone — the little daisies cover the ground in March and April, then the fritillaries take over above them.
- For a touch of blue, pair them with Armenian grape hyacinth — its blue clusters bloom in April at the foot of the purple bells.
- For a terrace version, plant 7 to 10 bulbs in the white Elho Greenville Round pot in the Ø20 cm size — the white sets off the checkered flowers and the drainage hole prevents standing water.
Plant them near a path or a window: the checkered pattern of the flowers is only really visible up close.
Verdeia tips
- Choose a moist spot: in dry, sandy soil, fritillaries flower poorly and disappear within a few years. The edge of a pond, the bottom of a slope or a lawn in partial shade suits them better.
- Let them self-seed: avoid mowing or hoeing where they grow before the end of June. The young plants flower after three to four years and fill out the meadow without replanting.
- Plant them in irregular groups: a single fritillary goes unnoticed. Throw a handful of bulbs on the ground and plant them where they land for a natural meadow effect.
Technical specifications
- Botanical name: Fritillaria meleagris, mixed colors
- Common name: Snake's head fritillary, checkered lily
- Family: Liliaceae
- Origin: species native to Europe, from England to western Russia
- Delivery: dry bulbs, size 6/7 (6 to 7 cm in circumference), mixed colors, in packs of 30, 60, 120 or 240
- Flowering height: 20 to 30 cm
- Flowering: April to May, purple and white checkered bells
- Planting: September to November, 8-10 cm deep
- Exposure: sun or partial shade
- Watering: moderate
- Hardiness: down to -30 °C
- Soil type: moist, rich in humus, even clay
- Life cycle: perennial, naturalizes and blooms again every year
- Bee-friendly: visited by bumblebees in spring
- Care: very easy
- Toxicity: toxic to animals and children if ingested (digestive problems)
- Decorative style: Natural garden / Flowering meadow / Pond edge
Each bulb is unique: the color distribution in the mix and flowering time naturally vary from one batch to another and depending on the climate.
Your plant, delivered with care
Every plant is hand-packed in a box specially designed for plants — secured, protected, ready to travel. It arrives in perfect condition, roots intact and foliage preserved, ready to take its place in your home.
Our Verdeia commitments
FAQ – Everything to know before adopting your Verdeia plant
How are my plants prepared before shipping?
All our plants are selected from our European partner nurseries. Before shipping, they are watered, cleaned, and protected with breathable, secure packaging. Each package is designed to ensure your plant arrives in perfect health, without any transport-related stress.
Will the plant look exactly like the photo?
The photos accurately represent the variety and the stated size. Since each plant is unique, slight differences in shape, foliage, or color may occur — and that’s part of their charm.
What are the delivery times and conditions?
Orders ship within 48 working hours, with tracked delivery in 2 to 5 working days via DPD. Shipping costs and the free-shipping threshold depend on your country — see our delivery page. You receive a tracking link as soon as your parcel leaves.
What should I do when my plant arrives?
Open your package as soon as you receive it and carefully remove the plant from its packaging. Let it acclimate for 24 hours in its new environment before watering. If it has been slightly stressed during transport, it will recover its shape after one or two days in the light.
What should I do if my plant arrives damaged?
Contact us within 48 hours with a photo of the issue. Our team will assess the situation and offer you the best solution: replacement, partial refund, or recovery advice.
Can I return a plant?
Since plants are living beings, standard returns are not possible. However, we guarantee good health upon delivery: if the plant arrives damaged, it will be replaced free of charge. For any other cases (order error, decorative pot, accessory), returns are possible within 14 days.