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Snake’s Head

Pointed buds open to maroon (occasionally white), bell-shaped blooms. Snake’s Head looks like a wildflower and is best used as such—in a meadow, under trees, around shrubs. Happiest in part shade and evenly moist soil.
Deer Resistant

Note: Snake’s Head is resistant to deer, but rodents such as voles and gophers may eat the bulbs.

Bloom times are relative within the spring bulb season, which varies from place to place and year to year. They are intended to help you plan a sequence of bloom from Very Early season to Very Late season. About two weeks separate Early from Mid and Mid from Late. The start and duration of bloom is heavily dependent on the weather. Warm temperatures speed up growth and flowering; cold temperatures slow them down.

early
mid
late

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Specifications
USDA Zones
Design Criteria
Planting Guide
When to Plant

Item #	6039
Botanical Name	Fritillaria meleagris
Synonym	Checker Lily, Checkered Lily, Guinea Hen Flower
Bulb Size	6cm+
Catalog Page (2020)	131

Flower Color	Maroon and White
Bloom Time	Early-Mid
Height	10-12 inches
Sunlight	Part (3-4 hours sun per day)
Soil	Evenly moist
Resistant to Deer	✓
Good for Naturalizing	✓
Shade Tolerant	✓

Depth of Planting Hole	4 inches
Spacing	3 inches apart
Density	10-11 per sq. ft.

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Planting Instructions

Best in partial shade (will tolerate full sun in northern regions) and evenly moist soil that doesn’t dry out in summer. This fritillaria can be planted in rough grassy areas, where it looks very natural. Just be sure you wait to mow until the foliage begins to yellow.

Spring-flowering bulbs must be planted in the fall. They need cool soil to make roots before the onset of winter. Cool fall weather arrives at different times from north to south and from high elevations to low.

Please note that the temperature of the soil lags behind the air temperature. You can generally plant later than the windows provided in this map. As long as the ground is not frozen, you can still plant.

The amaryllis are the last bulbs to arrive in the Colorblends warehouse. They are typically available for delivery toward the end of October. They can be planted upon receipt. They can also be stored in a cool, dry location for several weeks. Please note: Amaryllis bulbs may start growing before they are potted. If you decide to delay planting, open the bag(s) and set the bulbs on their roots so that the flower stems can grow straight up. And don't forget to mark your calendar or set a reminder to pot the bulbs.

Paperwhites can be potted upon receipt. They can also be stored in a cool, dry location for many weeks. Many people pot their bulbs in batches, one after the next, to keep the fragrance coming. It's not unusual for paperwhites to begin to sprout while in storage. The shoots emerge an inch or two and then stop, as though the bulbs realize they are getting ahead of themselves. The shoots often curl around the bulbs, pointing opposite gravity. After the bulbs are potted, the shoots straighten up.

Cold Limit	4a
Southern Limit	7b *
Western Limit	9b *
* Prechill in Zones 7b and warmer in the South, Southwest and California

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