Fritillaria meleagris

Fritillaria meleagris

— often known as the Snake’s Head Fritillary — is a delicate and distinctive spring-flowering bulb native to damp meadows and river floodplains across Europe, including long-established populations in Britain. Flowering in mid-spring, it produces nodding, bell-shaped blooms marked with an intricate chequered pattern in shades of plum-purple,  carried on slender stems above fine grassy foliage.

Best suited to a moist but well-drained soil, Fritillaria meleagris thrives in sun or light shade and is particularly effective when allowed to naturalise through long grass, orchard plantings or the front of a border where conditions remain cool and not overly dry in summer. Despite its refined appearance it is a hardy species, returning reliably each year once settled, and bringing a gentle, meadow-like charm to spring displays.

Height typically reaches around 20–30 cm, making it ideal for naturalistic planting schemes, woodland edges or containers where its intricate flowers can be appreciated up close. Plant bulbs in autumn and avoid excessive disturbance to allow colonies to build gradually over time.