Crown Imperial

Hi. I simply MUST have these. I like all three colors, but orange is a real knock-out! I know I should have gotten them from somewhere (can't find any) in the fall, but I want them so badly, I'll take them anytime.
Please let me know if you know a source.
Thanks.

What is Crown Imperial?

These are native of Iran and Pak Afghan boarder but I have never seen here............. I am also looking these badly, even small bulbs(bulblets) will also welcome.
Kaleem

Fritillaria imperialis is the name. These are usually sold early in the autumn, they must be plant while fresh as they don't like to be dried too much.

Unless you get one in a pot growing you will have to wait, mine has nearly finished flowering now so it would be better to wait. You might be lucky enough to find one about to flower but unless you could get it locally it wouldn't travel well, they start to grow early in the season.

I took this on 23rd March when most of the bells were open, so they lasted a good 2 weeks, they have only just started to die off in the last couple of days.

Beautiful! I'm jealous. I've only found 3 sites that sell them (yellow and orange only), and only one is in the USA, but I will have to wait until fall.

Maybe your local garden centre (if you have one!) will stock some around September? I got mine locally as a loose bulb in a bin.

There are lots of places that sell the bulbs. Just off the top of my head, Brent and Becky's, Scheepers and Van Engelen, Bloomingbulb, Brecks. I think just about anyone that carries a lot of fall bulbs carries this one. Try searching for fritillaria imperialis instead of crown imperial.

Yes, you'll have to wait until fall but you certainly can find it in red, orange and yellow.

Yup, easily found in the fall. They look like they're a plant from Mars! People always look and say "What's that?!"

Check this site.
They are on sale.

http://www.bloomingbulb.com/Search.asp

My local garden centre has lots of these in pots at the moment, they are so spectacular. I love both colours. Mind you, you can smell them from yards away!

I love them, in all the colors. Do they have an unpleasant smell?

Well I don't find the smell unpleasant myself, but I've heard it described as 'a mixture of foxes and garlic'.

GREAT! I'll plant them near the things that the bunnies are always eating to the ground! I currently buy fox urine to keep them away. (Seems to be doing a fair enough job.) I don't have to smell them, just look at them. ^_^

I recalled I've tried these bulbs in my garden once. None of them came up for me? My other spring bulbs did well such as hyacinch, tulips, crocuses ect. I don't know if they're victimized by voles or not.

3gardeners note: the deer mow them down to the ground here so bunnies might like them too?? Also Botanus (www.Botanus.com) here in Canada carries some nice ones every fall.