Plant profile:
- Botanical name: Fritillaria meleagris
- Order: Lily-like (Liliales)
- Family: Lily family (Liliaceae)
- Subfamily: Lilioideae
- Genus: Fritillaria
- Type: Checkerboard flower
- Growth type: Bulb plant
- Height: 25 to 35 centimeters
- Growth width: 10 to 20 centimeters
- Leaves: Whole-margined, long, pointed, dark green
- Flower shape: Individual, terminal bells
- Flower color: Violet, pink, white, rarely red
- Flowering time: April and May
Natural occurrence
The checkerboard flower grows wild in large parts of Europe as far as the Caucasus. You can find the pretty onion plant here on wet meadows, in floodplains or in sparse forests. Unfortunately, it is threatened with extinction in the wild and is under strict nature protection.
also read
- The right location for the checkerboard flower
- Plant the checkerboard flower in the garden
- Cultivate the checkerboard flower in a pot
Location and soil
Put the checkerboard flower in a sunny to partially shaded place. The surface can be quite damp, because this corresponds to your natural preferences. If the kibitz flower finds optimal conditions, it willingly grow wild and form attractive flower carpets. It moves in after flowering. You should therefore ensure that there is appropriate subsequent planting in the flowerbed.
planting
In order to be able to enjoy the flowers in spring, you have to put the bulb five to eight centimeters deep in the ground in autumn. Keep a planting distance of six inches so that the lapwing has a good start.
The soil must be kept constantly moist. In the first year, cover the planting area with spruce branches to protect the young bulbs from the cold and drought.
Care tips
The checkerboard flower moves in in August and begins to take root around September. Therefore, never cut off withered leaves, as the onion plant needs them to store nutrients.
You can leave the onion in the ground because the lapwing is completely hardy. There is no need to apply fertilizer after flowering.
The soil at the site must never dry out completely. Something will be fully ripe in spring Compost soil incorporated into the soil, which gives the plant strength for new growth.
Tips
The delicate checkerboard flower is poisonous. For this reason, always wear it when caring for it Gardening gloves and make sure that children or pets do not nibble on the flowers and leaves.
