Expert: Long Island Gardener - 4/1/2008

Question
I am looking for Chocolate/Skunk Lilies. I have searched several different companies that sell bulbs on the internet and cannot find anyone who sells them. Where can I purchase these?

Answer
Dirty Diaper Lily.  Outhouse Lily.  Skunk Lily.  The Brown-flowered Fritillaria camschatcensis's stinky reputation is probably the reason you can't find it for sale.  Who would buy something that makes your yard smell like the cesspool overflowed?

One of its other monikers, 'Chocolate Lily', was derived not from its odor but from its ruddy mahogany coloring.

In all fairness, the erudite members of the Pacific Bulb Society do not find f camschatcensis offensive at all.  A friendly contact there reports they give this bulb a clean bill of health when it comes to fragrance at arm's length, although it is true that Fritillaria is a genus not grown for its agreeable scent.  Far worse: F. imperialis and F. agrestis.  Even they however can be found if you know whom to ask.

For these and other hard to obtain Bulbs contact Pacific Rim Nursery:

www.hillkeep.ca/bulbs%20fritillaria.htm

or Bulbmeister:

shop.bulbmeister.com/fall/flower-bulbs-detail/Fritillaria-camschatcensis_2920-0-25-0

or private Arkansas growers (and esteemed Bulb scholars) Kelly Irvin:

www.irvincentral.com

and Jane McGary (who warns it is not the easiest plant to cultivate), who can be reached through the Pacific Bulb Society.  Good luck with this.

L.I.G.