Dotted among meadow grasses and along the edges of woodland, the exquisite bell-shaped heads of this member of the lily family herald the arrival of a new season.

There is just one species of fritillaria thought to be native to Britain: the beautifully painted F. meleagris or Snake's Head fritillary. This delicate, mulberry-coloured flower with white chequerboard markings appears in damp meadows in early spring, in sparse groupings that make it seem rather more exotic than the common daffodil, tulip or hyacinth. Fritillaries, with their waxy, bell-shaped flowerheads, belong to the lily family and are grown from hardy bulbs. F. meleagris apart, they originate from the temperate regions of the Himalayas, Cyprus, Turkey and Iran. New varieties came to Britain in the second half of the 16th century and ranged in appearance from the bold and brassy, such as F. imperialis, with orange, red or yellow flowers, and F. michailovskyi, with purple-edged yellow bells, to flowers that are far more shy and retiring. The less showy F. meleagris subvar. alba, reveals nodding white flowers in singles or pairs on a 12-inch arching stem in mid spring, while the equally gentle F. thunbergii bears cup shaped creamy flowers with faint green veins amid glossy leaves.

PLANTING FRITILLARIA
These hardy bulbs need deep, rich soil and should be planted in autumn, to a depth of at least twice that of the bulb. Either lay it on its side to prevent the hollow crown from filling with water, or cover with coarse sand. A top dressing of well-rotted manure once it has flowered will help secure the following year's crop. F. imperialis, with its cup-like blooms in red, orange and yellow on stems up to 90 cm high, is a lovely architectural plant for beds and borders. It also does well in pots, and is useful for filling gaps in your planting. F. meleagris can be naturalised through grass in wilder areas of the garden, in a rock garden or under the dappled shade of trees; in all cases, make sure that the soil is moist. Choose your site carefully, as fritillaria do not like to be disturbed. Once planted, leave well alone for at least four years before dividing or transplanting. Fritillaries can also be grown in pots in a cool greenhouse or raised from seed, although, this way, they can take several years to produce flowers.

BUYING BULBS
• Broadleigh Garden sells bulbs by mail order, but also has a lovely woodland display that is well worth visiting in the spring. Call (01823) 286231 for a catalogue.
• Dobies nursery supplied the fritillaria featured. Call 0870 112 3623 for a catalogue.
• Jacques Amand has a stunning collection of bulbs available by mail order, including common and more unusual varieties of fritillaria. Call (020) 8420 7110 for a catalogue.

WHERE TO SEE THEM
• Cambridge University Botanic Garden holds the National Collection of Fritillaria in the Alpine House. The best time to visit is in March and April. Contact (01223) 336265.
• Great Dixter, Northiam, Rye, East Sussex features varieties in the Meadow Garden and in the Exotic Garden. Call (01797) 252878 for information and opening times.
• RHS Wisley has a fritillaria meadow planted with F. meleagris, F. meleagris 'Alba' and F. imperialis.
• RHS Harlow Carr in Yorkshire features F. imperialis and other unusual varieties in the Alpine Display House. Plants can be purchased in the plant centres. Call (01483) 224234 for more details.

FEATURE JACKY HOBBS
PHOTOGRAPHS MICHELLE GARRETT