FRITILLARIA MELEAGRIS seeds, perennial flowers

Magical FRITILLARIA MELEAGRIS Seeds - perfect for any woodland garden or naturalized grass!
Fritillaria meleagris is a species of flowering plant in the family Liliaceae. Its common names include snake's head fritillary, snake's head, chess flower, frog-cup, guinea-hen flower, guinea flower
Scientific name: Fritillaria meleagris
Higher classification: Fritillaria
Rank: Species
Detailed Description
Common name: SNAKES HEAD FRITILLARY, LEPER LILY, CHECKERED DAFFODIL
The snake's head fritillary is one of the most exquisite jewels in the treasure house of British wild flowers with a long list of common names which also include, Checkered Daffodil, Chess Flower, Frog-cup, Leper lily and Guinea-hen Flower. The nodding bell shaped flowers are unmistakable for their nodding heads, sometimes of pure white, or more frequently marked with a delicate chequerboard pattern in shades of purple. This rare British wild flower is now protected in its native meadows, but will always attract attention in a woodland garden, rockery, or naturalised in grass where they look magical.
SOWING ADVICE:
SOW SEEDS AT ANY TIME COVERING THEM WITH COMPOST OR GRIT 5MM DEEP, KEEPING THE SEED POT IN A COOL, WELL-LIT SPOT OUTDOORS. ARTIFICIAL HEAT IS NOT NEEDED AND PREVENT GERMINATION SO BE VERY PATIENT AS MANY SPECIES WILL ONLY GERMINATE IN THE SPRING AFTER CHILLING OR FREEZING IN THE MOIST SEED TRAY IN THE WINTER. GROW ON INDIVIDUAL SEEDLINGS IN SMALL POTS UNTIL OF SUFFICIENT SIZE TO BE POTTED ON OR PLANTED OUT INTO THE OPEN GROUND.

Sowing: Sow March to September or October to February.
Seeds need a period of cold to germinate. They can be left outdoors to go through the seasons naturally or germination hastened by stratification(imitating the seasons)
Sowing March to September.
Hastening germination by using stratification. Sow seed compost or something similar, place each container in a polythene bag and put into the refrigerator (not the freezer compartment) for 2-3 weeks.
After this time place the containers outside in a cold frame or plunge them up to the rims in a shady part of the garden border and cover with glass or clear plastic.
Some of the seeds may germinate during the spring and summer and these should be transplanted when large enough to handle. The remainder of the seeds may lay dormant until next spring. Germination is irregular often over several months. As each seed germinates transplant it almost immediately into its own pot.

Sowing October to February.
Sow the seeds compost, covering them with a thin layer of compost. After watering, place the seed container outside against a North wall or in a cold frame, making sure they are protected against mice, and leave them there until the spring.
The compost should be kept moist but not wet at all times, if the seed containers are out in the open then some shelter has to be given against excessive rain.
In the spring bring the seed containers into the greenhouse or indoors on to a well lit but not sunny windowsill and keep the compost moist. This should trigger off germination. If the seeds do not germinate in the spring keep them in cool moist conditions throughout the summer.
Prick out each seedling as it becomes large enough to handle, transplant into 7.5cm (3in) pots or trays to grow on. Plant out in spring into well drained soil. Gradually acclimatise to outdoor conditions for 10 to 15 days before planting out.
Cultivation:
Grows well in most fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soils and prefers cool, moist summers.