Fritilaria thunbergii

Probably native to bamboo forests of central China, but now widely naturalised and cultivated in eastern China and Japan, Fritillaria thunbergii is a slender bulbous fritillary forming 60 cm stems clothed in narrow whorled leaves, the upper ones ending in tendrils. In spring it produces loose racemes of nodding, bell-shaped flowers, cream to pale yellow, chequered with purple-brown markings. Its bulbs, known as "zhe bei mu", have been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine to treat coughs. It requires sun or partial shade, well-drained soil, and dry dormancy.