Lilium lancifolium
Tiger lily is a vigorous, easy species with pendant orange blooms densely spotted in black. It thrives in full sun and moist, well‑drained acidic soil and multiplies by bulbils on the stem. Stems are strong and flower in mid to late summer, but flowers have little to no fragrance. Use where spreading from bulbils is acceptable or easy to manage.
At‑a‑glance
- Group/Class: Species; Asiatic group
- Height × spread: 36–72 in (0.9–1.8 m) × 12–24 in (30–60 cm)
- Bloom window: July to August
- Color & flower form: Orange, heavily spotted, nodding turk’s‑cap
- Fragrance: 0 none
- USDA hardiness: zones 5 to 8
- Breeder / Year / Origin: unknown, native to East Asia
- Pet safety: avoid
How it differs
- Produces abundant bulbils on stems and spreads vegetatively
- Sterile triploid in many regions; rarely sets seed
- Non‑fragrant compared with many lilies
Strengths
- Reliable performer in full sun
- Multiplies readily from bulbils
- Tolerates varied soils if drainage is good
Care in one minute
- Full sun; light shade reduces bloom
- Moist, well‑drained, acidic soil
- Even moisture during growth
- Remove bulbils to limit spread; deadhead after bloom
Watch‑outs
- Can become weedy from bulbils if unmanaged
- Botrytis leaf blight in wet weather
Best uses (tags)
borders, naturalizing, pollinators, low‑maintenance
Provenance note
Native from the Russian Far East through China, Korea, and Japan; naturalized in parts of eastern North America.
References
- NC State Extension Plant Toolbox – Lilium lancifolium (Tiger Lily)
- Kew Science – Plants of the World Online – Lilium lancifolium
- UMass Extension – Lily Leaf Beetle (Lilioceris lilii)
- ASPCA – Tiger Lily
Written by: Your Flowers Guide editorial team
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