Fritillaria imperialis Maxima Lutea (Crown Imperial)
Award-winner Fritillaria imperialis ‘Maxima Lutea’ is a most impressive bulbous herbaceous perennial with its beautiful display of yellow pendant, bell-shaped flowers topped by a crown of small leaves and rising high at the end of an upright stem bearing lance-shaped, glossy leaves.
Award-winner Fritillaria imperialis 'Maxima Lutea' is a most impressive bulbous herbaceous perennial with its beautiful display of yellow pendant, bell-shaped flowers topped by a crown of small leaves and rising high at the end of an upright stem bearing lance-shaped, glossy leaves.
- Growing up to 40-44 inches tall (100-110 cm), 'Maxima Lutea' was granted the prestigious Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society in 1993 and has been quite popular since its introduction 400 years ago!
- Blooming occurs in mid to late spring and lasts for 2-3 weeks.
- Specimens that receive what they need often continue to flower year after year in the same location.
- Plant in fall in a full sun or partial shade area (some shade is particularly important in warmer climate zones) with moderately fertile, sandy and moist but well-drained soil for best results. The soil must drain quickly and thoroughly; heavy soil will definitely need the addition of extra sand. Water only once every 1-2 weeks and keep the soil dry for a few days before watering again. This will prevent the bulbs from rotting.
- Spectacular in groupings of 6-12 bulbs (at the back of the border). Mixes beautifully with other flowering bulbs such as the elegant lily-flowered Tulip 'Ballerina' with its luminous tangerine orange reflexed petals, Muscari armeniacum (Grape hyacinth) with its cobalt-blue flowers or 'Narcissus 'Mount Hood' or 'King Alfred', two very fragrant daffodils that will show off the pendant golden flowers of this 'Maxima Lutea' to perfection!
- Deer and rabbit resistant
- The flowers have a distinctive musk-like odor and contain large drops of nectar.
Requirements
Hardiness | 5 – 8 |
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Heat Zones | 4 – 9 |
Climate Zones | 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17 |
Plant Type | Bulbs, Perennials |
Plant Family | Fritillaria |
Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
Season of Interest | Spring (Mid,Late) |
Height | 3' – 4' (90cm – 120cm) |
Spread | 7" – 8" (17cm – 20cm) |
Spacing | 8″ (20cm) |
Depth | 8" (20cm) |
Water Needs | Average |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Chalk, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Fragrant, Plant of Merit, Showy |
Tolerance | Deer, Rabbit |
Garden Uses | Beds and Borders |
Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden |