Tiger Lily.

At a glance

Care level

Easy

Plant type

Bulbous perennial

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Indoor light

Bright indirect

Water

Every 7 to 10 days

Mature size

4 feet

Growth rate

Medium

Hardiness

USDA 3 to 9

Bloom time

Mid to late summer

Care

Plant your bulbs in well draining soil where they can get plenty of morning sun. Keep an eye out for aphids or lily beetles that might snack on the foliage. Make sure the soil stays moist but never soggy to keep the bulbs healthy.

Watering

Water deeply whenever the top inch of soil feels dry.

Feeding

Apply a balanced fertilizer during the active growing season.

Pruning

Cut back the stems to the ground after the foliage turns yellow in autumn.

Repotting

Divide the bulbs every few years if they become too crowded.

Soil

Loamy, well draining soil

Soil pH

6.0 to 6.5

Temperature

-30 to 35°C

Humidity

40 to 70%

Drought tolerance

Moderate

Lifespan

Perennial, typically 5 to 10 years

Deer and rabbits

Low

Safety

People

All parts of this plant are highly toxic to cats if ingested.

Pets

This plant is toxic to cats and can cause kidney failure if ingested.

Children

The bulbs and plant parts are toxic if eaten and should be kept away from small children.

Contact allergens

Handling the foliage or bulbs may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

Airborne allergens

The heavy pollen can trigger allergic reactions in sensitive people if inhaled in large amounts.

Edibility

While the bulbs are eaten in some cultures, they must be cooked thoroughly to remove bitterness and potential toxins.

How to identify it

• Orange petals with dark spots
• Reflexed petals curving backward
• Sturdy upright stems
• Narrow lance shaped leaves
• Prominent dark stamens

Height

0.6 to 1.5m

Spread

0.2 to 0.4m

Leaves

green, deciduous

Flowers

orange, black, 8 to 12cm

Fruit

brown, autumn

Problems to watch for

• Botrytis BlightCommon
• Lily BeetleCommon
• AphidsUncommon
• Bulb RotUncommon
• Root RotUncommon
• Slugs and SnailsUncommon

Growing it

Propagation

bulbils, division, seed

When to plant

spring, autumn

Overwintering

Cut back the dead stems to the ground after the first frost. Apply a layer of mulch to protect the bulbs from extreme temperature fluctuations.

In containers

They grow well in deep containers with good drainage, using at least a 30 cm diameter pot.

Plant low growing perennials around the base of your lilies to shade their roots and keep the soil moist.

Grows well with

• Daylily — They share similar light and water needs while providing a different texture.
• Hostas — Hostas cover the base of the lily stems which helps keep the roots cool.

Similar species

• Turk's Cap Lily — It has a similar reflexed petal shape but is native to North America.

Science

Family

Liliaceae

Genus

Lilium

Order

Liliales

Class

Liliopsida

Native range

Eastern Asia, including China, Japan, and Korea.

Conservation

This species is widely naturalized and not of conservation concern.

It grows in woodland margins and meadows where it uses its tall stems to reach sunlight above surrounding grasses.

Value to wildlife

nectar source

Pollinators

bees, butterflies, hummingbirds

Uses

ornamental border, cut flowers, container gardening

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Are tiger lilies perennials?

Yes, they are hardy perennials that return every year from their bulbs.

Do I need to deadhead them?

Deadheading helps the plant focus energy on bulb development rather than seed production.

Where the name comes from

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

Good to know

• It is commonly called the tiger lily because of its spotted orange petals.
• The plant is a prolific grower and can spread easily through its bulbils.
• It has been cultivated in East Asia for centuries as both an ornamental and a food source.

Also in

• Plants toxic to cats and dogs