Snakes head Fritillary Seeds frittilaria meleagris - flowers in April and May when it can occasionally still be found in old water meadows, stream sides and marshes. Sadly this beautiful plant is now becoming very rare in the wild, mainly a result of the draining of wetlands and loss of natural flood plains. In gardens, plants can be grown around a pond edge or in a bog garden and will tolerate sun or shade. Snakeshead Fritillary plants produce a spectacular display of chequered purple and cream flowers in spring and look best growing with other wetland plants such as Marsh Marigolds, Ragged Robin and Cuckooflower. An alternative name for Snakes head Fritillary is guinea hen flower.