Fritillaria eduardii

The crown jewel of the genus, bearing a corona of broad-flaring, 3-inch-wide, outfacing, orange flowers atop a 2- to 3-foot stem in April, the whole giving the impression of a rarefied F. imperialis (WITHOUT the stench). Ample sun and well-drained, rich soil will bring the best results (it winters easily here). Propagation is by seed only, with 7 or 8 years from germination to bloom – thus the scarcity and the steep price of these flowering-size bulbs. Steppe; Tajikistan. Zone 5.