Skip to content
Log inStart trial

Snake's Head Fritillary

Fritillaria Meleagris

Design with this plant

Overview

Snake's Head Fritillary, Fritillaria meleagris, is a perennial bulb standing at 12-16 inches tall. Renowned for its checkered, bell-shaped blooms in purple or white, it thrives in USDA Zones 4-8. Preferring moist, well-drained soils and partial shade, it's ideal for naturalizing in grassy areas or woodland settings. Blooming in early spring, this low-maintenance plant attracts pollinators while adding a unique patterned display to your garden.

Sun Full, HalfWater Low, Very LowZones 3–8Type BulbClimate Temperate
Snake's Head Fritillary (Fritillaria Meleagris) — well-drained soils and partial shade; purple and red and white flowers in the garden, image 83

Culture

Sun
Full, Half
Water
Low, Very Low
USDA zones
3–8

Shape & size

Mature height
10–12 Inches
Mature width
6–8 Inches

Classification

Type
Bulb
Family
Liliaceae
Climate
Temperate

See full data, regional cultivation notes, and design tools. Build a client presentation around this plant.

Start your 14-day trial

Photos (157)

Snake's Head Fritillary (Fritillaria Meleagris) — scientifically named Fritillaria meleagris; bulb with purple and red and white blooms, image 46
Snake's Head Fritillary (Fritillaria Meleagris) — this low-maintenance plant attracts pollinators while adding a unique patterned display to your, image 85
Snake's Head Fritillary (Fritillaria Meleagris) — as well as being an eye-catching addition to borders and beds; this species is also known to attract
Snake's Head Fritillary (Fritillaria Meleagris) — This plant thrives in full to partial sun with well-draining soil; is a striking and unique perennial that
Snake's Head Fritillary (Fritillaria Meleagris) — bulb with purple and red and white blooms; this plant thrives in full to partial sun with, image 119
Snake's Head Fritillary (Fritillaria Meleagris) — as well as being an eye-catching addition to borders and beds; this species is also known to, image 114
Snake's Head Fritillary (Fritillaria Meleagris) — is a striking and unique perennial that captures attention in any garden; scientifically named, image 67
Snake's Head Fritillary (Fritillaria Meleagris) — at a depth of about 4 inches
Snake's Head Fritillary (Fritillaria Meleagris) — Snake's Head Fritillary, Fritillaria meleagris, is a perennial bulb standing at 12-16 inches tall; it's ideal
Snake's Head Fritillary (Fritillaria Meleagris) — it's ideal for naturalizing in grassy areas or woodland settings; this low-maintenance plant, image 44
Snake's Head Fritillary (Fritillaria Meleagris) — they exhibit a checkered pattern in hues of purple; at a depth of about 4 inches, image 48
Snake's Head Fritillary (Fritillaria Meleagris) — Gardeners should be aware that while it's resistant to deer browsing
Snake's Head Fritillary (Fritillaria Meleagris) — as well as being an eye-catching addition to borders and beds; this species is also known to, image 134
Snake's Head Fritillary (Fritillaria Meleagris) — It is notably suitable for zones 4-8 and is quite resilient to late spring frosts; as well as, image 111
Snake's Head Fritillary (Fritillaria Meleagris) — Gardeners should be aware that while it's resistant to deer browsing; it is essential to consider, image 76
Snake's Head Fritillary (Fritillaria Meleagris) — scientifically named Fritillaria meleagris; bulb with purple and red and white blooms, image 106
Snake's Head Fritillary (Fritillaria Meleagris) — purple and red and white flowers in the garden; well-drained soils and partial shade
Snake's Head Fritillary (Fritillaria Meleagris) — at a depth of about 4 inches; they exhibit a checkered pattern in hues of purple, image 73
Snake's Head Fritillary (Fritillaria Meleagris) — Renowned for its checkered, bell-shaped blooms in purple or white, it thrives in USDA Zones 4-8, image 42
Snake's Head Fritillary (Fritillaria Meleagris) — Gardeners should be aware that while it's resistant to deer browsing; it is essential to consider, image 136
Snake's Head Fritillary (Fritillaria Meleagris) — it's ideal for naturalizing in grassy areas or woodland settings; this low-maintenance plant attracts
Snake's Head Fritillary (Fritillaria Meleagris) — at a depth of about 4 inches; they exhibit a checkered pattern in hues of purple
Snake's Head Fritillary (Fritillaria Meleagris) — is a striking and unique perennial that captures attention in any garden; scientifically named, image 47
Snake's Head Fritillary (Fritillaria Meleagris) — as well as being an eye-catching addition to borders and beds
Photographs by 15 contributors

Related plants

Abiqua Drinking Gourd Hosta (Hosta 'Abiqua Drinking Gourd') — resembling a drinking gourd

Ground cover

Abiqua Drinking Gourd Hosta

Hosta 'Abiqua Drinking Gourd'

Deep ShadeUSDA 3–9
'Above the Clouds' Hosta (Hosta hybrid) — The Hosta hybrid 'Above the Clouds' is a large mounded perennial with cloudy blue

'Above the Clouds' Hosta

Hosta hybrid

'Affair to Remember' Hosta (Hosta hybrid) — and a feathered green overlay

'Affair to Remember' Hosta

Hosta hybrid

Alabama Jubilee Daylily (Hemerocallis 'Alabama Jubilee') — Each blossom spans approximately 7 inches across and adorns the plant from early to mid-summer

Perennial

Alabama Jubilee Daylily

Hemerocallis 'Alabama Jubilee'

FullUSDA 5–11
Albomarginata Hosta (Hosta 'Undulata Albo-Marginata') — it blooms with delicate pale lavender flowers

Perennial

Albomarginata Hosta

Hosta 'Undulata Albo-Marginata'

HalfUSDA 3–9
'All the Buzz' Ornamental Onion (Allium hybrid) — All the Buzz Ornamental Onion

'All the Buzz' Ornamental Onion

Allium hybrid