Fritillaria persica Green Dreams

The Fritillaria persica 'Green Dreams' is a very beautiful form with bicoloured flowers of the Persian Fritillary, famous for its astonishing almost black flower stalks. Its tall flower stalks are sturdy and adorned with beautiful bell-shaped flowers washed in brown-purple on an almond green background. The plant also charms with its beautiful matte foliage in a gray-green-blue shade, which is highly ornamental even outside of the flowering period. Originally from the mountains of Persia, this bulbous plant acclimates quite easily in our gardens if we take care to plant it in a sunny location with well-drained soil. This plant, like a beautiful spring surprise, will flower in a rock garden or in a raised bed.

The Fritillaria persica belongs to the Lily family. It is native to an area ranging from Jordan to Iran, and is widely found in Western Asia. It is a plant that originates from relatively dry montane environments in winter, where it can be found growing in dry rock gardens as well as along paths or fields, between 500 and 1200 meters (1640 and 3937 feet) of altitude, often on limestone soil. There is significant variation within this species, which is manifested by the existence of very rare forms with different flowers, such as Green Dreams, discovered in a Persian fritillary cultivation.

'Green Dreams' grows from a large scale-like bulb measuring up to 8 cm (3in) in diameter, which is sensitive to winter humidity. The buds emerge vigorously from the ground in February-March, then quickly elongate to form tall stems reaching a height of 80 cm (32in) at the time of flowering in April. Each stem is adorned with entire, shortly lanceolate leaves, regularly spaced and spirally arranged, up to a height of 50 cm (20in). They display a beautiful matte gray-green-blue colour. Each stem ends in a spike over 30 cm (12in) long, bearing 15 to 20 large, closely clustered drooping bell-shaped flowers. Their bicoloured hue, green and plum at blooming, lightens slightly at full bloom. The petals, like the leaves, appear covered in a light silvery bloom. Their pleasant fragrance attracts pollinating insects. After pollination, a cylindrical and erect fruit forms, which will release numerous flat seeds when ripe. The above-ground vegetation of the Green Dreams Persian fritillary disappears in summer, and the plant enters a dormant period. During this time of year, the soil should be rather dry.

As spectacular as the Crown Imperial, which is much better known, the majestic Persian fritillary surpasses it in elegance. Give it a prime spot in a rock garden or in a bed that does not retain water, neither in winter nor in summer. This astonishing Green Dreams variety naturally pairs well with green, ivory, and the wild form with brown flowers. It can also be paired with Blue Glacier Spurge, silver wormwoods, garden irises, or salvias, which will somewhat mask its absence in summer and winter. The Persian fritillary adds verticality to beds of tulips and daffodils, just like Eremurus.

Another advantage is that their bulbs emit an odor that repels rodents, especially moles. They will therefore protect your tulip bulbs from their attacks without bothering you; the odor is imperceptible once the bulb is planted.