The snake’s head fritillary is a remarkable plant. Known by many names, including the chess flower and the chequered lily, this spring flowering bulb has striking, magical blooms that open in shades of white, purple and yellow.
Native to central and northern Europe, snake’s head fritillaries, or Fritillaria meleagris, shoot from small bulbs, producing green shoots early in March before pendulous flowers appear in April and May. As you can see in the images here, snake’s head fritillaries are particularly impressive when seen growing in meadows or lawn areas.
