Handsome in groups, but as the attractive flowers can be difficult to see against a dark background, plant them among yellow, pink or white tulips or other light-colored plants, or in front of a light-colored wall or building.
Native to southern Turkey, western Iran, Iraq, Israel and Jordan, so may need protection to really thrive in Maine.
24–40" tall. Mid Spring blooms, Z5-8. 20cm/up bulbs.
The Royal General Bulbgrowers Association in Holland (Koninklijke Algemeene Vereeniging voor Bloembollencultuur, or KAVB) gives this large group of flowers the name Miscellaneous Bulbs. The expensive catalogs call them specialty or accent bulbs; some call them minor or dwarf bulbs (even though some of the fritillaries are huge!); Louise Beebe Wilder covered most of them in her 1936 classic Adventures with Hardy Bulbs. Whatever you call them, most are uncommonly sweet, delicate, colorful, and completely welcome in spring.