Fritillaria meleagris, commonly known as the snake’s head fritillary, checkered lily, or guinea-hen flower, is a delicate and enchanting spring-flowering perennial from the lily family (Liliaceae), prized for its nodding, bell-shaped blooms that carry a distinctive checkered or tessellated pattern in shades of rich purple, dusky pink, or pure white. Native to damp meadows, floodplains, and woodland clearings of Europe, it has an elegant, almost ethereal presence in the garden, standing 8 to 12 inches tall with slender, grass-like foliage that allows the striking flowers to appear as though they are floating on air. Blooming in mid to late spring, its flowers are admired both for their unusual coloration and for their graceful, pendulous form, which lends a naturalistic charm when planted in groups or drifts. This species prefers moist but well-drained soil, rich in organic matter, and thrives best in full sun to partial shade, making it particularly well-suited for meadows, woodland edges, or naturalized plantings where it can spread over time. Hardy and resilient once established, Fritillaria meleagris is tolerant of cold winters and can naturalize gracefully if allowed to self-seed. Beyond its ornamental value, it plays an important ecological role, providing nectar for early pollinators such as bees and other insects, while also being a plant steeped in symbolism, often associated in art, folklore, and poetry with beauty, fragility, and the fleeting nature of life.