Tiger lily is a tall, hardy garden flower named for its black-spotted, reddish-orange petals, which resemble a tiger’s pelt. A few varieties have red, white, or yellow petals. The lily first grew in China, Japan, and Korea but has become a popular garden plant in North America and Europe.
The stems of tiger lilies are greenish-purple or dark brown, and many grow from 4 to 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 meters) tall. Up to 20 flowers may grow on a stem. The leaves are long and spear-shaped.
Tiger lily plants grow from bulbs. Tiny black bulbils (bulblets) develop where the leaves join the stalk. The bulbils eventually drop off, producing new plants. Tiger lilies grow best in bright sunlight and in well-drained, slightly acid soil. Gardeners should cover each bulb with about 4 inches (10 centimeters) of soil. The flowers can withstand cold weather but need some protection in winter. After being planted, tiger lilies flower each August and September with little care.
People in some countries boil tiger lily bulbs and serve them as food.
