Crown imperial

Crown imperial is a tall, spring-flowering bulb with upright stems and a distinctive crown of leaves above pendulous bell-shaped flowers. It brings a strong vertical accent to sunny or lightly shaded borders, with mature stems commonly reaching three to four feet. ## Planting and display Plant bulbs in fall in fertile, well-drained soil that retains some moisture through the growing season. The [NC State Plant Toolbox](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/fritillaria-imperialis/) recommends spacing bulbs about 9 to 12 inches apart and setting them about 6 inches deep. Give the leaves room to emerge and let the plant complete its seasonal growth before the bulb goes dormant. ## Flowers Fragrant flowers appear around mid-spring and may continue into June. Species forms vary in color, including yellow, orange, and red, and the flowers hang beneath a tuft of leaf-like bracts. The [Royal Horticultural Society growing guide](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/crown-imperial/growing-guide) notes that well-established clumps can spread over time. ## Maintenance Avoid disturbing newly planted bulbs. If a mature clump flowers poorly, lift and replant it while dormant after improving the soil. Fresh bulbs are poisonous, so keep them away from children and pets.