How to Plant Tiger Lily Bulbs— Tiger Lily Care Tips

Thinking about planting tiger lily bulbs? You’re at the right place. I have several types of lilies in my garden. They’re an obvious choice for me because they grow well in my climate. But the one that stands out is a double tiger lily. It’s so easy to grow, I almost forget about it until the orange flowers with dark spots open up in mid-summer.

What Is a Tiger Lily?

Tiger lilies have been known by two botanical names. The older name was Lilium tigrinum, and the newer name is Lilium lancifolium. Native to China and Japan, tiger lilies are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zones 3 through 8. They grow from three to four feet tall and bloom, like mine, in mid-summer.

Types of Tiger Lilies

Most tiger lilies sold today are selections of the original variety, chosen for specific characteristics. They include:

• Improved Orange Tiger Lily (Lilium tigrinum splendens ‘Improved’): Known for larger flowers with darker spots.
• Yellow Star Tiger Lily (Lilium tigrinum splendens ‘Yellow Star’): If you want to grow tiger lilies but orange isn’t a good color for your garden, these are more yellow.
• Double Tiger Lily (Lilium lancifolium ‘Flore Pleno’): Extra petals make this type stand out in the garden.

Why Choose Tiger Lilies for Your Garden?

Tiger lilies can be a perfect addition to your garden. They offer aesthetic beauty as well as major benefits. Their orange blooms with dark spots will surely add beauty to your garden. Also, this will attract the pollinators like bees and butterflies. So, it will enhance the biodiversity of your garden as well. Beyond this, various studies show that their bulbs contain bioactive compounds with antioxidant properties.

According to Wan-Sup Sim, Sun-Il Choi, et al., “Lilium lancifolium is native to Northeast Asia and its bulbs have been used for medicinal treatment. Moreover, Japan has been using L. lancifolium bulbs more actively as food ingredients than Korea. The storage organ of L. lancifolium is surrounded by several fleshy nodes at the base of the stem, called the bulb, which has been used as food or medicine to treat pneumonia and bronchitis.”

How to Plant Tiger Lily Bulbs – Perennial Bulb Planting Guide

If you are a gardener and thinking about how to plant tiger lily bulbs, you are at the right place. Planting tiger lily bulbs is a simple process. These lilies will definitely add vibrant color to your perennial garden. Here you can get a proper perennial bulb planting guide:

In the ground

Choose a spot with mostly full sun, although tiger lilies will also grow in partial shade, especially if it’s during the hottest part of the afternoon. All lilies need well-drained soil because the bulb could rot in wet ground.

Plant tiger lily bulbs so the tip of the bulb is two inches deep. Tiger lilies only grow six to eight inches wide, so you can space them as close as eight inches apart. Remember, they’ll be tall, so put them in the back of the bed with other tall flowers.

In a container

Choose a large container with good drainage and fill it with a potting soil that also drains well. If it doesn’t, add a mixture of about two parts potting soil to one part sand.

Plant the bulbs at least two inches deep. Tiger lilies need to be chilled before flowering, so plant them in early spring and put the pot in a cold frame or unheated space. Bring it out once there is no danger of heavy frost.

When to Plant Tiger Lily Bulbs

If you are planning to plant tiger lilies, it is important to know when to plant tiger lily bulbs. Tiger lilies are usually sold as bulbs in fall or spring. When purchasing bulbs online, most nurseries will ship in the fall, which is the best time to plant them. In the spring, plant as soon as you can work in the soil. You don’t have to wait until your garden is frost-free.

How to Grow Tiger Lilies – Tiger Lily Care Tips

Tiger lilies are hardy, low-maintenance perennials. But it is important to know how to grow tiger lilies. They grow well in well-drained soil with full to partial sunlight. You need to provide the perfect conditions to grow them beautifully. Here are some tiger lily care tips you should follow:

Watering

Along with well-drained soil, tiger lilies prefer even moisture. Often, regular rainfall is enough. But during dry periods, especially in the first year of growth, water your lilies about one inch a week. To keep them from drying out, apply a light layer of mulch around them.

Fertilizer – soil conditions for tiger lilies

You should know the soil conditions for tiger lilies before using the fertilizer. If the soil is rich enough, you may not need to fertilize at all. If you’re unsure or the lilies don’t grow well, fertilize early in the year with any product formulated for flowering plants. You won’t need to fertilize tiger lilies in the ground as often as those in containers, which require weekly treatment as they continue to grow.

Pruning

You don’t need to prune tiger lilies except to cut off spent blooms. Allow the foliage to grow until it yellows.

You can also cut lilies for flower arrangements. Choose flowers that have just begun to open. They should last about two weeks in a vase with fresh water.

Overwintering

Tiger lilies will overwinter just fine in the ground. Once the stems and leaves have yellowed in the fall, cut them back at ground level.

For tiger lilies in containers, stop watering as fall approaches and cut them back when they turn yellow. Then move the container where it will stay cool and dry, like an unheated shed or garage, or even a cold frame. Tiger lilies may only last a few years in containers.

Are Tiger Lilies Poisonous?

Tiger lilies are poisonous to cats. According to Jordanna Fetto, “Every part of the plant, even the water contained in the vase, is toxic if ingested and only a small amount can be fatal. While it is not fully understood why, it is believed that when cats digest lilies, their bodies create a toxic metabolite, which results in severe kidney injury. This is why cats are the only animal susceptible to life-threatening lily toxicity.”

Common Tiger Lily Pests and Diseases – How to Address Them

You can, but some Tiger lilies are susceptible to a variety of pests and diseases. These can affect their health and ornamental value. One of the most significant fungal threats is Botrytis elliptica. It is also known as lily blight. It causes leaf spotting. If you do not manage the infected plant properly, it can cause extensive damage to your plant. Lily mottle virus can cause a viral infection in your lily plants. As a result, your plant’s leaves may become spotted. Also, the growth may be stunted.

The lily leaf beetle (Lilioceris lilii) is a notable invasive species. According to Maggie Freeman, Chris Looney, et al., “This Eurasian beetle was introduced to North America in 1943 and can now be found in nine provinces and 14 states. The lily leaf beetle has already been found feeding and reproducing on several eastern species of native lilies.” This beetle feeds on leaves, stems and buds. It can cause significant damage to your tiger lilies.

To effectively manage pests and diseases in tiger lilies, you need an integrated approach. Plant disease-free bulbs in your garden, and plant with proper spacing to ensure air circulation.

FAQ

When is the best time to plant tiger lily bulbs?

The best time to plant tiger lily bulbs is in the fall. It is the best time because it gives your plants time to establish roots. You can also plant them in spring, but you need to do it as early as the soil can be worked. There is no need to wait for the last frost.

How deep should tiger lily bulbs be planted?

First make sure of one thing: the tip of your tiger lily bulbs should be about two inches deep into the soil. Your bulbs need proper spacing, as well, so plant 8 inches apart to allow your beautiful lilies to grow.

Do tiger lilies need full sun to thrive?

Many studies show that tiger lilies prefer full sun. But they can also tolerate partial shade. They can grow in hot weather. But you should aim for at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily for your lilies.

What type of soil is best for tiger lily bulbs?

Tiger lilies grow in well-drained soil. You need to avoid soggy conditions because the bulbs are prone to rot. You can also plant them in containers. First, mix your potting soil with sand in a 2:1 ratio. Then plant them. The water will drain properly through this mixture.

Sources:

• NIH: “Predicting the Invasion Potential of the Lily Leaf Beetle, Lilioceris lilii Scopoli (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), in North America”
• MSPCA: “Lily Toxicity: The Potentially Fatal Danger to Cats”
• NIH: “Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of Lilium lancifolium bulbs extract”
• ASHS Publications: “Greenhouse and Landscape Growth of Tiger Lily Cultivars Following Flurprimidol Preplant Bulb Soaks”
• ScienceDirect: “Development of an in vitro bulbil-induction system for Lilium lancifolium and the impact of exogenous auxin on bulbil formation”
• ResearchGate: “Lilium”
• Nature Hills: “Types of Tiger Lilies”
• Amazon: “Espoma Organic Potting Soil Mix”