FRITILLARIA 2011

[Gerry Webster]

In my experience frit seed does not germinate until the Spring following sowing. From then it is +/- 5 years until flowering.

[David Pilling]

In my experience nomocharis (mentioned above) does not seem to need a cold spell to germinate, but does seem to germinate best at lower temperatures say 50-60F.

[Lesley Cox]

F. michailovskyi will flower 2 &1/2 years from germination, no matter how old the seed in the first place. Seed sown in autumn of 2009 has flowered this spring. I've had the same time frame a couple of times previously as well. Only had experience of the low, one or two flowered form, not the taller forms.

[Janis Ruksans]

Only today found time to work on last season pictures. So I can show you some, although far too late.
This very unusual specimen was marked between Fritillaria graeca planted on outside beds. Now it is potted separately. I don't think that this is virus. More likely it is mutation similar to those of F. imperialis cultivars Aureomarginata and Argenteovariegata.
Janis

[TheOnionMan]

I came across this
http://gardenofeaden.blogspot.com/2009/02/how-to-propagate-snakes-head-fritillary.html
that explains that very fresh Fritillaria meleagris seed, planted immediately, can be germinated and grown the same season.  Apparently common with Nomocharis species, is this also a common trait among other Fritillaria species?

That's interesting regarding F. meleagris seed.  I don't get seed on my mere couple of bulbs of that species.  But with other Frit species I sow seed of outside right as the seed is ripe and starting to spill; I never get germination until the following spring.  And with Frit seed sown outside, they come up thickly.

[Janis Ruksans]

I came across this
http://gardenofeaden.blogspot.com/2009/02/how-to-propagate-snakes-head-fritillary.html
that explains that very fresh Fritillaria meleagris seed, planted immediately, can be germinated and grown the same season.  Apparently common with Nomocharis species, is this also a common trait among other Fritillaria species?

That's interesting regarding F. meleagris seed.  I don't get seed on my mere couple of bulbs of that species.  But with other Frit species I sow seed of outside right as the seed is ripe and starting to spill; I never get germination until the following spring.  And with Frit seed sown outside, they come up thickly.

With me Fritillarias never germinated in autumn and I'm sawing them immediately after harvesting. I sometimes observed autumn germinations with Crocuses and Alliums, but not with Fritillaria.
Janis