Herbs in the Landscape

 Persian lily (Fritillaria persica)

This beautiful low-maintenance perennial herb grows from a bulb to about 1-3 feet in height and 1-1.5 feet wide in USDA zones 5-8. It forms unique plum-purple blooms in clusters on top of a spiky stem with gray-green leaves in May and June. Each raceme contains up to 30 conical, nodding, bell-shaped flowers.

This species is native to the rocky slopes of Turkey, Syria, Iran, Jordan, and Israel. Persian lily prefers full sun to part shade, medium water, and organically rich well-drained soil. It does great in hot and dry sites, though it may enjoy some afternoon shade when it is hot. They tolerate drought, but they do best with consistent soil moisture. The bulbs are planted in the fall. This herb looks best when planted in groups. Persian lily looks great when naturalized in an area over time, planted near other spring-blooming bulbs in a cottage garden, set along sunny borders, and placed in rock gardens. They also grow well in large containers. Fritillaria tolerates deer and black walnut trees well. The strong aroma of the bulbs keeps away rodents and other animals that typically feed on bulbs.

Persian lily is considered moderately toxic to pets and people if ingested. Some experience skin irritation, and it may be best to handle these plants with gloves. Historically, many Fritillaria species have been utilized in traditional Chinese medicine to alleviate cough, asthma, bronchitis, and even insanity. It has been used as an expectorant and antitussive in China for over 2000 years. Today, there is ongoing research in the United States to isolate beneficial compounds and to study the medicinal usefulness of these herbs.