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Key characteristics

Family: Liliaceae
Height: 3 to 4 ft
Width: 1 to 1.5 ft
Flower color: Deep orange-red, nodding bell-shaped flowers held in a circular cluster beneath a leafy crown
Foliage color: Glossy medium to deep green, lance-shaped leaves arranged in whorls along the stem
Bloom time: Mid to late spring
Light: Full sun to partial sun
Water: Moderate
Maintenance: Low, plant bulbs deeply on their sides to reduce moisture collection, allow foliage to yellow naturally after bloom
Growing zone: USDA zones 5 to 8
Wildlife: Occasional visits from bees and early-season pollinators

Bulbs

Fritillaria imperialis 'Rubra'

Red Crown Imperial

Fritillaria imperialis 'Rubra' produces tall, upright stems crowned with nodding, bell-shaped flowers in deep orange-red tones. The blooms form a circular ring beneath a tuft of glossy green bracts that create a distinctive, crown-like silhouette. Flowering in mid to late spring, the blossoms provide early seasonal interest, while narrow, lance-shaped leaves line the stem in evenly spaced whorls from base to tip.

Native to mountainous regions of western Asia and the Middle East, 'Rubra' functions well as a focal element in borders and mixed perennial plantings, where its vertical structure adds rhythm.

Light

Full sun to partial sun

Water

Moderate

Bloom time

Mid to late spring

Find this plant

Works well in

Borders
Cottage Gardens
Under Trees
Woodland Gardens
Containers

Companion plants

Lungworts · Daylilies · Crocuses · Heucheras · Lady's mantle · Hellebores

Design tip

Spring bloom is its headline moment, and it reads best in a group rather than as a single plant. Drift them in uneven groups for a natural look, and interplant with perennials that fill the gap after the leaves die back.