Northwest Blooms · Bulbs
Fritillaria meleagris
Snake's Head
- Family
- Liliaceae
- Height
- 10 to 14 in
- Width
- 4 to 6 in
- Flower color
- Dusky purple to reddish-purple with a distinctive checkered patter
- Foliage color
- Soft green to blue-green, narrow grasslike leaves
- Bloom time
- Mid to late spring
- Light
- Full sun to partial sun
- Water
- Moderate
- Maintenance
- Low, allow foliage to yellow naturally after bloom
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 3 to 8
- Wildlife
- Bees and early-season pollinators
About this plant
Fritillaria meleagris produces slender stems topped with nodding, bell-shaped flowers marked by a distinctive checkered pattern in shades of purple, plum, and soft rose. The delicate blooms appear in mid to late spring, hanging gracefully above narrow, grasslike green leaves that add a fine-textured presence throughout the flowering period. The patterned petals create subtle depth and visual movement as the flowers sway gently in spring breezes.
Native to damp meadows and open woodlands across Europe, Fritillaria meleagris fits naturally into woodland borders, naturalized plantings, and meadow-style gardens, where it weaves easily among spring bulbs and early perennials. It also performs well beneath deciduous trees, offering seasonal color before overhead canopies fully leaf out.
Works well in
Borders · Cottage Gardens · Under Trees · Woodland Gardens · Containers
Companion plants
Hostas · Ferns · Daffodils · Creeping phlox · Columbines · Lungworts
Design tip
The early flowers arrive when the garden is still waking up, so give it a spot you pass often in spring. Drift them in uneven groups for a natural look, and interplant with perennials that fill the gap after the leaves die back.
