The introduction aptly sets the tone and purpose of this book: it is designed primarily to be a practical guide on cultivating fritillaries, to give some background on the genus and to inspire us to grow and to develop and enthusiasm for these lovely and varied flowers. In the course of this book, Kevin Pratt, nurseryman and holder of the British National Collection of over 100 species of Fritillaria, and Michael Jefferson-Brown, a garden writer, gardener and Royal Horticultural Society judge, fill the bill on all three counts.
Those who don't already grow fritillaries may be unaware of the diversity of flower colors, patterns, species variability and plant sizes (from mere centimeters to I meter tall) so we get a glimpse of these beguiling features in the first chapter, "The Fascination of Fritillaries". The increasing availability of species after World War 11 has made plants more accessible in greater variety than before and in this chapter the authors set forth a list of candidate species for a "starter collection".
The second chapter covers Fritillaria botany and distribution, the distribution being rather generally described as the "temperate parts of the northern hemisphere", and "into the drier, harsher areas of Asia Minor and California". A map providing an overview of distribution would be appreciated, as would a discussion of the origins of the genus name and a whirlwind synopsis of early species discoveries. The introduction to the botany of the genus covers several key points, including the importance of nectaries as diagnostic aids, and the variety of shapes, openness and reflextion of tepals, the role of style and bulb type and shape in identification, habitat and factors that set the genus apart from Lilium and other somewhat similar genera. Those readers already thoroughly familiar with the distribution, habit and growth of a range of Lilium will get the most out of this chapter, as the authors make frequent references to various aspects of lily botany. The importance of nectaries and bulb type to Fritillaria identification reminds me of Calochortus, and in a future update of this book I would love to see a key to the sections and species, including notes on and diagrams of nectaries.
In chapter two, three pages of useful drawings of style forms, bulb forms and seed pods illustrate some key points, and they augment the paragraph on factors of greatest importance in classifying species. The genus Fritillaria is divided into six sections and the authors provide a handy table of species in each section.
Chapter three, "Buying and Cultivating Fritillaries", is filled not only with lovely color plates of blooms of many species, but also with sound advice on seeking out bulbs at small nurseries, horticultural shows, botanic gardens and through plant societies. Pratt and Jefferson-Brown cover how to select the best bulbs from available stock, when to buy, what care to take in handling and storing the bulbs, and where to place your treasures in the harden. This chapter thoroughly covers soil preparation, pH, drainage, planting time and depth and mulching or topdressing. The authors also briefly but competently cover care, division and dormancy issues, but the best part of this chapter is the excellent and thorough treatment of basic pot culture of fritillaries. A detailed section on forming raised bulb beds and bulb frames for greater drainage, moisture, rodent and climate control includes tips on using screening, wire and plastic mesh for a variety of purposes including containing very small "rice grain" offsets.
The recurring emphasis on using common sense and adjusting instructions to suit your particular climate, soil and landscaping is refreshing. This approach to culture should prove encouraging to new growers and gardeners outside Britain.
The fourth chapter, "Plant Associations", covers choices of companion plants to consider when landscaping with fritillaries. It contains suggestions for planting fritillaries in temperate pasture or meadow-like gardens, at edges of woods, in rock gardens and beds, interplanting with heathers and dwarf deciduous or very open evergreen shrubs, among drier-growing ferns or in a Mediterranean planting. Pratt and Jefferson-Brown mention not only specific taxa but also general plant categories (such as sub-shrubby plants, smaller lilies, deciduous trees) and contrasts in plant form and habit, which allows the reader greater freedom of imagination when adapting landscaping suggestions to local conditions and plant material availability.
A competent discussion of the practical and philosophical pros and cons of propagation by seed and by vegetative means leads off chapter five, "Propagation and Breeding". The authors describe physical appearance, harvesting and viability of seeds, brief storage and sanitation tips and pollination methods. They give good instructions on seed sowing from post-harvest timing to soil mixes, moisture and the first two to three years of care and transplanting young bulbs. Gardeners outside England may wish to refer to Charles Hardman's article, "The Famed John Innes Composts Revealed at Last" (The Underground 1:1, Autumn 1995), for more background on the John Innes mixes used in this chapter. The chapter contains a short, sensible guide to propagation, care and feeding of bulblets and bulb scales. It closes with a section on breeding which covers basic hybridizing technique and lists nine species crosses and their results.
Chapter six, "Fritillaries in the Wild", defines four general categories of habitats/growing conditions where fritillaries are native. It gives an overview of several areas and some of the typical species found there. Note that "Great Valley of California" probably is a reference to California's Central Valley or San Joaquin Valley. "People and Their Plants", the seventh chapter, introduces three Fritillaria growers: an alpine and bulb grower, a plant explorer who has visited wild populations of fritillaries in several countries, and an enthusiast/nurseryman. These three aficionados share cultural advice, habitat background and species descriptions.
In contrast to much of the first part of this book, chapter eight, "Fritillaries in North America", is slightly more technical in nature, discussing and describing at least 15 of the 19 North American species, their habits and similarities to other species. It includes a diagram on proposed relationships between 23 taxa. "Showing Fritillaries" (chapter nine) covers the rewards, requirements and strategies of entering pots of fritillaries in flower shows and discusses how to grow and transport winning entries.
The largest chapter, "A-Z List of Fritillaries", encompasses an alphabetical list of many Fritillaria taxa, their sections, style types, geographical origins, descriptions and specific cultivation and landscaping notes.
The authors thoughtfully included a one-page glossary of basic botanical terms, an index and six appendices indispensable to gardeners: A-"Where to See Fritillaries" (in Great Britain), B-"Where to Buy" (bulbs and seeds), C-a list of common synonyms, D-"Fritillaries for Specific Locations" (lists of species for various landscaping uses), E-"Country of Origin" (lists species by region of origin, e.g. Europe, Eastern Mediterranean and Asia Minor, Asia and North America), and F-"Plant Characteristics and Requirements" (a table of species listed alphabetically, their flowering periods, height, color, ease of culture and soil condition in summer). I hope that when this book is updated the authors will include a list of recommended papers, reference works and other literature for those wishing to do further study on this remarkable group.
The Gardener's Guide to Growing Fritillaries is a lovely, practical book packed with notes on culture and landscaping that both bulb enthusiasts and general gardeners will enjoy. The culture chapter alone is worth the price of admission. Though I cannot grow many temperate species in my Mediterranean climate garden, this book has rekindled my desire to rediscover the odd and beautiful fritillaries from California and the Middle East.
Elisabeth Lassanyi