heirloom tiger lilies Tiger Lily Species Lily

Lilium Tigrinum (lancifolium) is an heirloom favorite, quite properly known as the "Tiger Lily" of "Grandma's garden" fame. It has large unscented pendant orange flowers with black spots and recurved tips. It is a notoriously vigorous grower and naturalizes easily, producing a big crop of stem "bulblets" every year and aerial bulbils (resembling black beads thickly arranged along the stem).

Once they develop rootlets, these bulbils can be easily raised to blooming size, in fact will plant themselves if allowed to drop to the ground. If you seek a rapidly-propagating lily, this one's FOR YOU! In the Orient this species is raised for its edible bulbs (delicious in veggie stir-fry dishes. Very enduring and virus-resistant. We barely keep up with the revival of demand for this hard-to-get species. 16-18 cm bulb size. Choose between 1 bulb or a 3-pack.

Botanical name: Lilium lancifolium 'Splendens' 
Form: Perennial
Hardiness Zone: 3-9
Flower Color: Orange/black spots
Foliage Type: Linear, green leaves arranged in whorls or spirals up the stems
Bloom time: July-August
Height: 3-4 ft 
Spread: 12 inches
Light requirements: Full or partial sun 
Plant depth: 6 inches of soil over top of bulb 

See "Growing Tips" for more detailed instructions

Tips and Growing Instructions

Visit our How-To Cultivation Library for more growing tips.

Species lilies, also known as Tiger Lilies, are wild lilies, native to North America, Europe, and Asia. Delicate and full of charm, there are 80 - 100 accredited Species. Most species lilies do not require specialized care and will naturalize themselves very well. They are very adaptable to most soil conditions and environmental conditions, and they do quite well in warm, moist climates with fertile soil. Tiger Lily bulbs for the most part are smaller than hybrid varieties, but will produce good quality stems and a lot of blooms. Their delicate, beautiful flowers are quite showy and most will bloom for long periods compared to other lilies.

Lilies are incredibly easy to grow and few garden pests trouble them. The most natural location for lilies is on sloping ground with excellent drainage. Lilies prefer to have their blooms in the sun and their roots in the shade. Try planting them among annuals or perennials that will keep their roots cool. 

The general rule of thumb for planting spring bulbs is to plant two to three times as deep as the bulb is tall. This means that some of our larger Bulb-Zilla lily bulbs will need to be planted 6-8 inches deeps. Plant with the roots downward and the scales upward. After planting, water well two or three times. Lilies are most effective when planted in groups of three or more. Space them about a foot apart – they will spread and fill this space in no time! 

Always allow the leaves on the stalk to turn yellow and fall off as part of the lily’s natural growth process. This ensures that the bulbous underground part of the plant has gotten enough nourishment and will mean greater growth next year. Each year watch their beauty increase as they multiply! 

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