The imperial crown is demanding and requires a lot of care. Follow our tips on location and drainage and you will experience a wonderful bloom.
The crown imperial (Fritillaria imperialis), originally from Persia, is a real eye-catcher in the garden, because the ornamental plant comes with a very impressive flower. A single plant alone is enough to draw the attention of passers-by to your garden. But not only the flower is very impressive. The size of the lily plant is also very impressive. The imperial crown can eventually reach a height of more than one meter. On top of that, the Imperial Crown exudes a wonderfully intense scent.
The hardy, perennial plant is not only available in one colour. If you like yellow flowers, for example, the Fritillaria Lutea is something for you. Red lovers, on the other hand, will get their money's worth with the Fritillaria Rubra Maxima. On the other hand, the Fritillaria Aurora and the rarity Fritillaria imperialis Garland Star bloom in orange. But no matter what color, the imperial crowns all have one thing in common: they always want to be looked after and cared for.
How to properly care for imperial crowns
Tip 1 - the right location:
The Crown Imperial loves a warm and very sunny location. Only when she gets this, does she drive out flowers intensively. Furthermore, the imperial crown needs a soil that is very permeable and also has a good nutrient capacity. So if you have heavy soil in your garden, you need to add sand to the soil to loosen it.
Tip 2 - the best time to plant:
If the soil is properly prepared, you can plant the crown imperial bulbs from August to October. In this way, the plant can use the heat that is still available in the ground to develop roots. You can plant the imperial crowns individually or in groups of 5 to 8 or 10 bulbs per square meter.
By the way:
Once planted in the ground, the bulbs should stay there. So do not take them out of the ground to overwinter them dry. After all, the crown imperial is hardy.
Tip 3 - Create drainage:
There is also drainage when planting the imperial crownsvery important. If you have dug the planting hole about 20 centimeters deep, then you simply have to fill in a handful of sand. This drainage prevents the bulbs from rotting during heavy rainfall and intense waterlogging in the soil.
Tip 4 - Fertilize Kaiserkrone:
It is best to fertilize your imperial crown(s) twice a year. The first time in spring (late March to early April) when the first shoots appear. It is best to use mature compost or mineral fertilizer. You should fertilize a second time after the flowering period (May to June).
Tip 5 - water the Kaiserkrone when it is dry:
Imperial crowns are actually very easy to care for. You should only reach for the watering can and water the plants regularly if the drought is very long. Always make sure that there is no waterlogging. Otherwise the onions could start to rot.
Tip 6 - Cut the imperial crown:
If the beautiful flower of the imperial crown has faded, it is advisable to remove the flower stalk above the leaves immediately. Because the rest, on the other hand, should be left standing until it has yellowed. Only then should you cut it back to 10 centimeters. In this way, the Imperial Crown can gather new strength for the coming season.
Tip 7 - Fighting Lily Beetle:
The Imperial Crown is not immune to pests. For example, the lily chicken is the one that bothers you the most. This is an approx. 8 mm large beetle that starts eating the leaves at the end of March. To combat this, you must regularly collect the beetles and their larvae, which are on the underside of the leaves.