Pine Fritillary Plant Care

Fritillaria pinetorum Davidson

Updated · Sources · How we source care data

Fritillaria pinetorum, the pinewoods fritillary or Davidson's fritillary, is an uncommon species of fritillary.

🌼Perennials🧅Bulbs & Tubers
Water

Every 7–14 days

Light

Partial shade to full sun

Temp

50–75°F

Humidity

40–60%

At a glance

How do you care for Pine Fritillary?

Plant Pine Fritillary in partial shade to full sun (USDA zones 12a) and water a young shrub every 7–14 days until it is established. It tolerates temperatures of 50–75°F (10–24°C). Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season. It is reported as toxic to pets, so keep it out of reach of pets.

What Is the Pine Fritillary?

Pine Fritillary (Fritillaria pinetorum) belongs to the Liliaceae family within the Fritillaria genus.

Pine Fritillary displays a tall, elegant stem with nodding bell-shaped flowers growth habit, reaching up to 3 ft tall with a spread of approximately 0.5 ft. Pine Fritillary produces graceful bell-shaped flowers in shades of purple, white, or yellow.

How Often Should You Water a Pine Fritillary?

Water a young or newly planted Pine Fritillary every 7–14 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established shrubs mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Watering Frequency

Every 7–14 days

Until established; then in dry spells

What Light Does the Pine Fritillary Need?

Pine Fritillary thrives in partial shade to full sun.

Light Requirement

Partial shade to full sun

What Temperature and Humidity Does the Pine Fritillary Prefer?

Fritillaria pinetorum tolerates temperatures of 50–75°F. Pine Fritillary prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.

Temperature

50–75°F

Humidity

40–60%

What Soil Mix Works Best for a Pine Fritillary?

Well-draining, fertile soil with added organic matter like compost or peat moss. Good drainage is essential for Pine Fritillary to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

How Often Should You Fertilize a Pine Fritillary?

Feed Pine Fritillary every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established shrubs in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

Fertilizing

Every 6 months

During the growing season

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Where Should You Plant a Pine Fritillary?

Choose a spot with partial shade to full sun and well-draining, fertile soil with added organic matter like compost or peat moss. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Pine Fritillary is suited to USDA Zone 12a.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

How Far Apart Should You Plant a Pine Fritillary?

Pine Fritillary can spread to about 1 ft (0.2 m) and reach about 3 ft (1 m) tall. Space plants about 1 ft (0.2 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the plant spacing calculator.

How Do You Prune a Pine Fritillary?

Prune Pine Fritillary while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.

How Do You Care for a Pine Fritillary in Winter?

Pine Fritillary is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 12). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

How Do You Propagate a Pine Fritillary?

Pine Fritillary can be propagated through division of offsets, seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to turkish crown imperial plant care, which shares the same genus.

Is the Pine Fritillary Toxic to Pets and Children?

Toxic (caution)

Reported as toxic in our plant data. Not verified by the ASPCA.

Toxic to cats and dogs, can cause skin irritation in humans

This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

What Pests and Diseases Affect the Pine Fritillary?

Pine Fritillary is susceptible to aphids, slugs, snails. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Pine Fritillary Need?

Pine Fritillary grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. In cooler regions, grow Pine Fritillary as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.

Hardiness Zone

Zone 12a

Keep exploring plants

Pine Fritillary is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.

It belongs to the Fritillaria genus — compare its care with other Fritillaria species on PlantoScan.

Fritillaria is part of the Liliaceae plant family — browse all Liliaceae genera and species.

Pine Fritillary thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.

More Fritillaria Species

Other Fritillaria species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:

Sources

  • Scientific name & taxonomy: Fritillaria pinetorum Davidson, family Liliaceae (first published in Muhlenbergia 4: 67 (1908)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
  • Pet toxicity: Pine Fritillary is reported as toxic to pets in our plant data (not verified by the ASPCA), so treat it with caution. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
  • Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 12a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
  • Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.

Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.

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