How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Tiger Lily

Gardening the stunning blooms of the tiger lily flower is well worth the effort. Originating in Asia, tiger lily (Lilium lancifolium, also called Lilium tigrinum) is a popular ornamental bulb that’s become widespread internationally due to its vibrant image. It’s even become naturalized in parts of the United States and is seen throughout New England in the wild.

Of course, there’s a Native American character Tiger Lily from Peter Pan who became popular in the children’s story. It’s hard to find tips on growing these glorious flowers online because half the time, you’re more likely to find references to her!

There are similarities between the two. Tiger Lily’s a strong and independent character. In traditional lore, the tiger lily meaning is said to represent the fierceness and confidence of women. Some actually purport the gift of a tiger lily says “I dare you to love me!”

What is a Tiger Lily?

The tiger lily (known botanically as Lilium lancifolium) is also known by numerous cultivar names – hybrids included. They are commonly called tiger lily, and various colors come in before the name like orange, white, pink, red, purple and yellow giving them the various color combinations they come in. The tiger lilies meaning is reputed to be mercy, compassion, and loyalty, also tied to wealth and success.

Native Area

Tiger lilies originate in China, Korea, Japan, and Russia. Today people grow perennial lilies, or lilium flowers in their gardens to add dimension and pops of color. They make excellent cut flowers and are often used for wedding bouquets by florists.

Characteristics

Tiger lilies grow on an upright stem that tops out at four feet in optimal conditions and remains relatively compact at eight inches wide. Their lanceolate leaves are bright green and about four inches long. Gardeners grow tiger lilies specifically for their vibrant orange flowers, which have a characteristic lily shape, pronounced stamens, and reddish petals that have stark black spots. 

You may have seen pictures of the striking appearance of the tiger lily flower. Tiger lily flowers grow from bulbils that sit at each of the leaf axils. Each has a bloom time of a day or two. If pollen exchanges between two lilies, spent flowers produce a small seed capsule. These lovely flowers grow from tiger lilies bulbs, with different needs than herbaceous herbs that grow from branching roots. If you give the bulbs a great head start and keep your lily plants healthy they will multiply.

Like all members of the lily family, these are toxic to humans and pets. To keep them and children safe from harm, limit access to containers or garden areas these toxic plants grow in. But whether you’re seeking a fierce blossom of orange and black, or a loyal bulb that might take over your garden, the tiger lily is perfect for you. Let’s bring a piece of Neverland home for you and your friends to visit and explore the world of tiger lilies!

Planting

When it comes to tiger lilies, plant tiger lily bulbs in the garden or in containers in spring or fall. Choose a site in full sun with partial afternoon shade, or a container that’s at least ten inches deep. Dig holes about two to three times the size of the bulbs. In warmer areas, work on the deeper side to protect bulbs from the heat. Mark where you’ve placed them. Save the extra bulbs, and store them in a cool, dark place for next season. 

How to Grow

Tiger lilies are not terribly fussy, and any effort put into caring for them is worth it. Let’s talk about the basics to get you growing tiger lily flowers. You may discover wild tiger lily flowers dominating your garden site!

Light

Tiger lilies thrive in full sun conditions. In hotter climates, they tolerate partial shade, especially during the heat of the afternoon. Give them six hours of sunlight in your garden daily. If they are grown in movable containers, it will be easy to move them into optimal conditions.

Water

Established tiger lily plants are drought-tolerant and survive in arid climates, provided they get one inch of water per week. Younger bulbs require more water until they’ve matured and spread their roots deeply. Extra moisture spurs larger plant growth, helping roots form easily in the growing season.

Mulching with peat moss, sand, or straw mixed into the garden soil during hotter and drier times of year helps keep the roots cool and appropriate moisture in the soil. Use soaker hoses or drip irrigation to water. Cut back on watering your garden when summer and winter arrive, as these are dormant times for the tiger lily. 

Soil

These plants like rich, well-draining soil. While they tolerate moisture that stays in compost-rich soil, they don’t like wet feet. Sandier soils are fine for these bulbs. They grow in clay soil as well, but it takes them longer to become established, and drainage will be a problem. Add a little compost and agricultural sand to improve drainage if poor soil is present. The optimal pH for growing tiger lily flowers is 5.5 to 6.5.  

Temperature

Tiger lilies thrive in USDA hardiness zones 3 to 9. The leafy parts of your plants won’t survive temperature extremes but the bulbous roots allow blooms to emerge again in spring. They’ll tolerate cold down to 25°F (-4°C). 

Fertilizing

Tiger lilies don’t need much fertilizer. An application of compost around the base of the leaves twice a year provides all the nutrition they require as their bulbs form clumps throughout the garden bed. If you want to encourage more tiger lily flowers, use a liquid fertilizer in late spring and late fall.

Maintenance

As summer eases towards fall, your lilies will die back. Cut back the stalks when all the leaves yellow. Remove them to the ground, and allow the foliage to go dormant for the winter. Annual pruning prevents future plant diseases in your garden and reduces pests.

When spring comes again, divide your tiger lilies before new shoots form, or allow them to come back on their own. If you live somewhere with sub-freezing temperatures during winter, spread two to three inches of mulch overtop. This protects the bulbs. Dormant bulbs may experience damage if they repeatedly freeze and thaw..

If the potted lily you are gardening has stopped producing blooms, it might not have enough room for its roots to grow. At this point, repot it into a larger pot, or divide it in the spring or fall into multiple pots for more flowers in your garden. Set tiger lilies at the same level of soil they were planted before. Give them well-draining soil that’s rich to provide plenty of nutrition.

Propagation

Propagation is possible in your garden by bulbil or by division of the roots. Do this during the spring before new growth appears. Dividing them in the fall in warmer climates is possible as well. Bulb division requires digging up carefully when it’s dormant and gently separating individual bulbs. Replant them separately with the pointed side aimed upward.

Bulbils form along the stem at leaf axils. Carefully remove these and pot them as if they were bulbs to grow a new lily. They’ll take an extra year of time to form a tiger flower, so it’s a slower process. Most tiger lily species are aggressive spreaders.

Divide every couple of years so they don’t take up space in your garden beds. Pot them and give away divided plants to friends, or compost them. Keep them contained to have healthy, happy blooms in your garden.

Common Problems

Once you have tiger lilies in the garden or in containers, they are easy to look after, spread year after year, and produce excellent flower value. This is a fun lily to grow but there are a few issues that could arise when working with this bulb. 

Growing Problems

If you’re gardening potted tiger lilies, don’t leave them in standing water. Overly-wet soil leads to optimal disease conditions. Check the soil with a fingertip and water when it feels dry. Without proper drainage, you may have trouble obtaining blooms. In this case, wait for fall, and gently remove the bulb with attached roots, then add some agricultural sand. Plant the bulbs into the garden, and they’ll bloom bright orange tiger lily flowers next year. 

Pests

Aphids are a common garden pest. Blast them off your lilies with a strong stream of water, and then control them with neem oil if your water treatment isn’t enough. They transmit plant diseases to the rest of your garden during feeding. Because lily can host other plant diseases, keep aphids at bay. Add flowers that beneficial insects enjoy – ladybugs in this case –  to attract them to your garden where they’ll thrive on an aphid diet. Establish these around your lilies before they bloom in summer and the likelihood of attracting beneficial insects increases.  

The red lily beetle dines upon the leaves of lily species. Small holes in the leaves are a sign the beetle is present in your garden. While it’s still not widespread in the US, it’s at risk of becoming so if not kept under control. Hand pick any you notice on the plant. Avoid this pest by regularly spraying with neem oil. Neem repels adults and kills larval and egg stages of the beetle. Spinosad sprays have also shown effectiveness in killing adult lily beetles.

Diseases

Tiger lilies are a known carrier of lily mosaic virus. The first sign of this disease is yellowed streaking on the leaves. Note that while this mosaic virus doesn’t harm in most cases, infected ones can transmit it to other lilies nearby, especially if aphids are present in summer. Keep them away from other lily species for this reason.

The biggest plant disease that impacts tiger lilies is basal rot. Present in warm, moist soil, often in the heat of summer, this causes bulb rot and can be catastrophic. One sign basal rot has set in is a mushy and browning stem. Prevent this by providing excellent drainage in the soil and not overwatering during the summer months.

Frequently Asked Questions