Fritillaria ‘Magic Bells’

Fritillaria ‘Magic Bells’ produces handsome, twisted, grey-green leaves around its chunky stems. This is a lovely, tall fritillary. It is a combination of two very beautiful cultivars (F. ‘Adiyaman’ and F. ‘Ivory Bells’) and, as a garden plant, it is better in every way than the ordinary species, Fritillaria persica. But it is the flowering that we want, and ‘Magic Bells’ has masses of nodding, pastel greenish white bell-shaped flowers, each with tints of dusky purple. Over time, these bells open out to reveal creamy stamens inside. The blooms appear all along the 65-90cm spikes, perhaps as many as 30 blooms per spike. 

If this is not enough to entice you, note that Fritillaria persica ‘Magic Bells’ also makes a good, and long-lasting, cut flower, giving indoor arrangements drama and theatre. Although this fritillary is hardy, it does best in a sunny border with some shelter at its back—just remember, this species originates from southern Turkey.