Snake's head fritillary
Fritillaria meleagris
Also called Fritillary and Chequered lily
Garden plant · BulbsIt wants damp meadow, not a dry border — and it takes two or three years to settle before it flowers properly. Buy it in the green if you can.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Medium
- Water
- Once a weekWater the ground — water at the base, in the morning, not over the leaves.
- Light
- Full sun to light shade, in damp grass
- Feed
- Not needed
- Humidity
- Average
- Hardiness
- Hardy — a cold winter RHS H5, to -15°C
- Size
- 0.3 m tall · 0.08 m across
- Lifecycle
- Bulb
- Origin
- Europe
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsNothing recorded against it
No animal-poison authority lists this plant either way.
PeopleNot checked yet
Nobody has checked this one against a source for us yet, so treat it as unknown rather than safe.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-08-03. Where a source says nothing, we say nothing.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.