Species Persian lily
purple-gray, cup-shaped flowers along purple-gray stems

Persian lily

Fritillaria persica

The Persian lily, or Fritillaria persica, is an amazing and beautiful species. Its petals come in an array of colors such as white, yellow, orange, and pink, making it a perfect addition to any garden. They emit a sweet, floral scent that will fill the air with a pleasant aroma. Its cupped bloom has 6–7 curved petals per flower, giving it an unusual shape that stands out from the crowd. Each stem can yield up to 10 blooms, so you can create a stunning show of Spring color. Not only is it great for decoration but the Fritillaria persica also attracts vital pollinators to your garden. It's an amazing and adaptive species, making it a wonderful choice for any garden.

Cycle:

Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Division,Seed Propagation,Bulb Propagation,Grafting Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

5 - 8

Flowers:

Plum purple to gray green Flowers

Sun:

Full sun,part shade

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Persian lilies should be watered when the top inch or 2 of soil becomes dry. Aim to water once a week and make sure the plant is thoroughly soaked. Depending on the soil type and climate, Persian lilies may need more water during particularly hot and dry spells. During the growing season, don't allow the soil to completely dry out because this will cause the flower buds to drop off. In the actively growing months, increase water frequency as needed, perhaps to every 3-4 days. During the winter when the plant is dormant, reduce watering to no more than once every 2 weeks.

sunlight

Persian lilies prefer full sun for most of the day. The best hours of sun for Persian lilies are from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. During spring through late summer, these plants should receive 6-8 hours of direct sun each day. During shorter winter days they should get 4-5 hours of direct sunlight. It is important to remember that Persian lilies are sun-lovers, and they should not be shaded during the peak hours of the day when they receive the most intense sunlight.

pruning

Persian lily (Fritillaria persica) should be pruned when new buds appear in the spring. This is usually around April or May. To properly prune your Persian lillies, remove any dead or damaged foliage, and prune all stems that have bloomed back to the lowest set of healthy leaves. This will allow the plant to focus its energy on new growth and stronger stems. Be sure to make a clean cut as pruning your Persian lillies aggressively can weaken its stems and disrupt its ability to flower. Keep in mind, pruning too much may prevent your Persian lilly from flowering in subsequent years as the flower stalks are usually produced on old wood.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Fritillaria persica typically starts flowering in April.

Hardiness Map