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.
- early
- mid
- late
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.
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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