Fritillaria persica (Persian lily)

Japanese name: フリチラリア ペルシカ
Scientific name: Fritillaria persica

[Overview]
A perennial 0.3–1 m tall, growing wild on rocky slopes in its native habitat.
It has a spherical to flattened-spherical bulb.
The stem is erect, thick and sturdy.
The leaves are simple and alternate, densely crowded, lanceolate to broadly lanceolate and up to 12.5 cm long, grayish green, pointed at both ends, stalkless, and often twisted.
A raceme about 30 cm long is produced at the stem tip, densely bearing 20–40 flowers that bloom facing downward.
The flowers are bell-shaped, 6-petaled, about 2 cm long, and dark purple to greenish brown.
The fruit is a capsule.

[Cultivation]
Propagate by dividing bulbs.
It prefers sunny, well-drained soil rich in humus.
It dislikes heat and humidity, so after flowering move it to a cool, airy place in partial shade.
For plants in the ground, plant them under deciduous trees or similar.
If the bulbs are dug up to get through the summer, dig them up once the aboveground parts have withered, bury them in peat moss or similar so they do not dry out, and store them in a cool place.
During the growing period, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries; during dormancy, water only enough to keep the bulbs from drying out.
After flowering, apply slow-release fertilizer as a thank-you fertilizer.
Aphids can occur.

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