Fritillaria imperialis

Fritillaria imperialis, the crown imperial, is a tall fritillary native to a broad range from Turkey to the Himalayas. A sturdy stem exceeding one metre bears, beneath a crown-like tuft of leaves, a whorl of large, nodding, bell-shaped flowers in orange, red or yellow, with a characteristic musky odour said to deter rodents and deer. Flowering occurs in spring. It grows in full sun, rich, well-drained soil, with the bulb planted at an angle to prevent water pooling in its centre.