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Fritillaria meleagris

Fritillary · Guinea-hen-flower · Lazarus Bell · Chequered Lily

Family LiliaceaeGenus Fritillaria

A single nodding bell chequered in dull pink and maroon, hanging over grass and moss
FlowerYerpoCC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Bulb, PerennialExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
bulbous geophytePlants of the World Online
Height
0.7-1 ft20-30 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
6-9 in15-25 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Purple/Lavender, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
SpringExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Altay, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Central European Russia, Czechia-Slovakia and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
3-8Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Dappled Sunlight; Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), SandExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally WetExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • Meleagris means spotted like a guineafowl. Once collected in vast quantities in the Thames Valley for the London, Oxford and Birmingham markets, it is now rare in the wild. Wikipedia: Fritillaria meleagris
  • Most of its old meadows were plowed during the Second World War. It survives at sites such as the meadows of Magdalen College, Oxford, and was chosen as Oxfordshire's county flower in 2002. Wikipedia: Fritillaria meleagris

This source reports 5 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around October 3, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on October 2, 2026.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

about 6 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3, in 5 days.

70% germination in 1–5 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Fritillaria p. 144Public domain
Show the original text
Fritillaria (Liliaceae). This genus germ. primarily at 40. Sometimes this had to be preceded by a cycle at 70 making the species a 70-40 germinator. The seedlings did not always develop, and it is probable that this was the result of shifting them to 70 too suddenly. More study is needed on this problem. Some species showed intolerance to DS, particularly F. meleagris germ. best with fresh seed in 70-40-70(70% largely in 1-5 d). The cotyledon develops within a week of germination. Germination was less when sown at 40 as shown by 40-70-40(3%)-70(8%)-40-70(5%). Seed DS 6 m at 70 was dead and seed DS 6 m at 40 was largely dead.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Fritillaria p. 144. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 21, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on March 20, 2026.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  4. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    20 germinated in this phase.

  5. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

about 12 months from start to step 5. Germination happens during step 5; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

60% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Fritillaria p. 144Public domain
Show the original text
Fritillaria (Liliaceae). This genus germ. primarily at 40. Sometimes this had to be preceded by a cycle at 70 making the species a 70-40 germinator. The seedlings did not always develop, and it is probable that this was the result of shifting them to 70 too suddenly. More study is needed on this problem. Some species showed intolerance to DS, particularly F. pallida germ. 40-70-40-70(20%)-40(60%) using fresh seed. Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70-40-70(4%)-40(37%)-70(15%)-40(22%)-70(15%) and 40(2%)-70(7%)- 40(7%)-70(30%)-40(47%)-7o(5%). These patterns are essentially of the 70-40-70-40 type. It is possible that these would have been reduced to a 70-40 pattern if longer cycle times had been used.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Fritillaria p. 144. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 22, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 21, 2025.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    2 germinated in this phase.

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    7 germinated in this phase.

  4. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    7 germinated in this phase.

  5. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    30 germinated in this phase.

  6. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

about 18 months from start to step 6. Germination happens during step 6; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

47% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Fritillaria p. 144Public domain
Show the original text
Fritillaria (Liliaceae). This genus germ. primarily at 40. Sometimes this had to be preceded by a cycle at 70 making the species a 70-40 germinator. The seedlings did not always develop, and it is probable that this was the result of shifting them to 70 too suddenly. More study is needed on this problem. Some species showed intolerance to DS, particularly F. pallida germ. 40-70-40-70(20%)-40(60%) using fresh seed. Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70-40-70(4%)-40(37%)-70(15%)-40(22%)-70(15%) and 40(2%)-70(7%)- 40(7%)-70(30%)-40(47%)-7o(5%). These patterns are essentially of the 70-40-70-40 type. It is possible that these would have been reduced to a 70-40 pattern if longer cycle times had been used.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Fritillaria p. 144. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 21, 2026 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on December 20, 2025.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  4. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    4 germinated in this phase.

  5. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  6. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    15 germinated in this phase.

  7. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    22 germinated in this phase.

  8. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    15 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 5 run on after germination.

about 15 months from start to step 5. Germination happens during step 5; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

37% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Fritillaria p. 144Public domain
Show the original text
Fritillaria (Liliaceae). This genus germ. primarily at 40. Sometimes this had to be preceded by a cycle at 70 making the species a 70-40 germinator. The seedlings did not always develop, and it is probable that this was the result of shifting them to 70 too suddenly. More study is needed on this problem. Some species showed intolerance to DS, particularly F. pallida germ. 40-70-40-70(20%)-40(60%) using fresh seed. Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70-40-70(4%)-40(37%)-70(15%)-40(22%)-70(15%) and 40(2%)-70(7%)- 40(7%)-70(30%)-40(47%)-7o(5%). These patterns are essentially of the 70-40-70-40 type. It is possible that these would have been reduced to a 70-40 pattern if longer cycle times had been used.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Fritillaria p. 144. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 5

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around June 19, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on June 18, 2026.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    3 germinated in this phase.

  4. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  5. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  6. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    5 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 4 run on after germination.

about 9 months from start to step 4. Germination happens during step 4; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

8% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Fritillaria p. 144Public domain
Show the original text
Fritillaria (Liliaceae). This genus germ. primarily at 40. Sometimes this had to be preceded by a cycle at 70 making the species a 70-40 germinator. The seedlings did not always develop, and it is probable that this was the result of shifting them to 70 too suddenly. More study is needed on this problem. Some species showed intolerance to DS, particularly F. meleagris germ. best with fresh seed in 70-40-70(70% largely in 1-5 d). The cotyledon develops within a week of germination. Germination was less when sown at 40 as shown by 40-70-40(3%)-70(8%)-40-70(5%). Seed DS 6 m at 70 was dead and seed DS 6 m at 40 was largely dead.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Fritillaria p. 144. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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