Are tiger lilies invasive?

They can spread aggressively in some areas, so keep an eye on them if you have a small garden.

Do I need to stake them?

They usually grow strong enough to stand on their own, but tall stems might need support in windy spots.

Plant guide

Tiger Lily.

Lilium lancifolium

Pronounced LIL-ee-um lan-si-FO-lee-um

Also known as Devil Lily, Easter Lily, Kentan, Martagon, Tiger Lily, lance-leaved tiger lily

The Tiger Lily is a classic perennial known for its striking, recurved orange petals spotted with dark purple. It grows from a bulb and is a reliable addition to many garden beds. These plants are quite hardy and return year after year with proper care.

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Perennial bulb
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Indoor light: bright-indirect
Water: Every 5 to 10 days
Mature size: 120cm tall
Growth rate: medium
Hardiness: USDA 4 to 9
Bloom time: Mid to late summer

Care

Plant your bulbs in well draining soil to prevent rot. Keep an eye out for aphids or lily beetles that might snack on the foliage. Ensure the soil stays consistently moist but never soggy.

Watering: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Feeding: Apply a balanced fertilizer during the active growing season.
Pruning: Cut back dead stems to the ground after the foliage turns yellow in autumn.
Repotting: Divide crowded bulb clumps every few years to maintain vigor.
Soil: Loamy, well draining soil
Soil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral
Temperature: -25 to 30°C
Humidity: 40 to 60%
Drought tolerance: moderate
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 5 to 10 years
Fragrance: light
Deer and rabbits: low

Signs it needs repotting

Bulbs are pushing against the sides of the pot.
Flowering has significantly decreased over time.
The soil level has dropped significantly due to decomposition.

Safety

People: All parts of this plant are toxic to cats, and ingestion can cause kidney failure in felines.
Pets: This plant is toxic to cats and can cause kidney failure if ingested.
Children: Keep this plant away from small children as the bulbs and foliage are toxic if ingested.
Contact allergens: The pollen can cause skin irritation or staining if it brushes against your skin.
Airborne allergens: The heavy pollen can trigger sneezing or allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.
Edibility: While some lily bulbs are eaten in parts of Asia, this species contains compounds that can cause severe gastrointestinal distress if not prepared correctly.

How to identify it

Orange petals with dark purple spots
Recurved petals pointing backward
Bulbil formation in leaf axils
Sturdy upright green stems
Lance shaped alternate leaves

Height: 0.6 to 1.2m
Spread: 0.3 to 0.45m
Leaves: green, deciduous
Flowers: orange, black, 8 to 12cm

Common problems

Lily leaf beetle — Bright red beetles that can quickly defoliate the plant.
Lily mosaic virus — Causes mottled leaves and stunted growth, often spread by aphids.

Growing it

Propagation: division, bulbils
When to plant: spring, autumn
Overwintering: Cut back the dead stems to the ground after the first hard frost. Apply a light layer of mulch if you live in a very cold climate.
In containers: They grow well in deep pots, but ensure the container is at least 12 inches deep to accommodate the bulbs.

Bulbil division

Collect the small black bulbils from the leaf axils in late summer.
Plant them in a nursery bed or small pots about 1 inch deep.
Keep the soil moist and wait for them to grow into full bulbs over a few years.

Plant low growing perennials around the base of your lilies to keep their roots cool and shaded.

Grows well with

Daylily — They share similar light and water needs while providing a different flower shape.
Hostas — Their broad leaves provide a nice contrast to the tall, slender stems of the lilies.

Keep away from

Tulips — They can harbor similar pests and diseases that might spread to your lilies.

Similar species

Turkscap Lily — It shares the same dramatic, recurved petal structure.

Science

Family: Liliaceae
Genus: Lilium
Order: Liliales
Class: Liliopsida
Native range: Eastern Asia, including China, Japan, and Korea.
Conservation: It is not currently of conservation concern and is widely naturalized in many regions.

It thrives in woodland edges and meadows where it can access moderate light and well drained soil.

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: bees, butterflies, moths, hummingbirds
Uses: ornamental garden plant, cut flower

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 6/9
Temperature: 5/9
Moisture: 5/9
Nutrients: 5/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Are tiger lilies invasive?: They can spread aggressively in some areas, so keep an eye on them if you have a small garden.
Do I need to stake them?: They usually grow strong enough to stand on their own, but tall stems might need support in windy spots.

Where the name comes from

The specific epithet lancifolium refers to the lance shaped leaves, while the common name tiger lily describes the spotted petals.

Good to know

The tiger lily is a tough, reliable perennial that often persists long after a garden is abandoned.
It produces small black bulbils in the leaf axils that can be planted to grow new lilies.
The flowers are technically known as turkscap lilies because of their recurved shape.

Is your tiger lily looking unwell?

This page is a general guide. Pocket Botanist diagnoses problems from a photo of your actual plant, works out watering for your light and conditions, and reminds you when care is due.

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This guide was generated with AI and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.