Fritillaria thunbergii

(aka: F. verticillata) I first saw the easy-to-grow, fast-multiplying, and long-lived Fritillaria thunbergii in John Elsley's South Carolina garden, where normal frits fear to tread. F. thunbergii is a really "cool" plant for the late-winter garden, as the fleshy green stalks emerge in February and expand quickly to 2' tall, adorned with narrow grey-green leaves that end in beanstalk-like tendrils, which aid in clinging to nearby neighbors (neighbors not included). From early March through early April, the stems are laden with small yellow-green bells, netted with lavender veins. By May, the plants are dormant for a long summer nap.