SKU: 00840369420619 3 Old Fashioned Orange Tiger Lily (Lilium lancifolium) Bulbs

Key Features

• Growth Habit: Upright, bulb-forming perennial that develops tall, leafy stems and slowly expands into colonies through underground bulbs and stem bulbils.
• Bloom Color: Brilliant orange to reddish-orange flowers heavily marked with dark purple or black spots.
• Fragrance: Generally little to no noticeable fragrance.
• Fruit Flavor: No commonly harvested fruit. Flowers may be followed by seed capsules, although plants frequently reproduce through bulbils.
• Culinary Uses: Tiger lily bulbs have a history of culinary use in parts of Asia and are described as edible by some horticultural sources. However, correct identification and preparation are essential, and home consumption is not recommended unless guided by a qualified edible-plant expert.
• Medicinal Uses: Tiger lily bulbs have been used in traditional Asian herbal practices, but the plant should not be used medicinally without guidance from a qualified healthcare professional.
• Possible Toxicity: Extremely toxic to cats. Eating any part of a true lily—or ingesting pollen or contaminated water—can cause life-threatening kidney failure in cats. Keep plants, cut flowers, pollen, and bulbs completely away from cats. Ingestion may also cause digestive discomfort in people or other pets.
• Wildlife Value: Flowers attract butterflies and other summer pollinators.
• Wildlife and Pest Resistance: Deer and rabbits may browse young shoots or flower buds, so protection may be needed where browsing pressure is high. Watch for lily leaf beetles, aphids, slugs, snails, botrytis, and bulb rot.
• Planting Zones: Generally hardy in USDA Zones 3–9.
• Sun Preferences: Full sun to partial shade. Flowering is strongest with at least six hours of sunlight, while light afternoon shade can be beneficial in very hot climates.
• Drought Tolerance: Moderate once established. Tiger lilies tolerate brief dry periods but flower best in evenly moist, well-drained soil.
• Mature Size: Commonly reaches approximately 3–5 feet tall and 12–24 inches wide, although plants may grow taller under ideal conditions.

When and How to Prune

• Remove faded flowers after blooming if you do not want seed capsules to develop.
• Leave the green stems and foliage intact after flowering so they can continue feeding the underground bulbs.
• Cut the stems back to approximately 2–3 inches above the ground only after the foliage has turned completely yellow or brown in fall.
• Remove diseased or badly damaged foliage promptly and dispose of it rather than composting it.
• The small dark bulbils along the stems can be removed to limit spreading or collected and planted to produce additional lilies.

Planting Instructions: Bulbs into the Ground

1. Plant bulbs in fall before the soil freezes or in early spring as soon as the ground is workable.
2. Select a location with full sun to partial shade and fertile, well-drained soil.
3. Loosen the planting area and incorporate compost if the soil is poor, compacted, or low in organic matter.
4. Dig holes approximately 6–8 inches deep, or about three times the height of each bulb. Well-drained soil is especially important for preventing bulb rot.
5. Position each bulb with the pointed end facing upward and the root plate downward.
6. Space bulbs approximately 8–12 inches apart. Planting in groups of three or more creates the strongest landscape display.
7. Backfill with soil, firm gently, and water thoroughly to settle the soil around the bulbs.
8. Apply approximately 2 inches of mulch to conserve moisture, keep the root zone cool, and suppress weeds.
9. Keep the soil moderately and consistently moist during active growth, but never waterlogged. Lilies perform best with their flowers in the sun and their roots kept cool.

Overwintering Steps

• Old-Fashioned Orange Tiger Lilies are reliably winter hardy throughout most of their recommended growing range and can remain planted outdoors.
• Allow the foliage to die back naturally after frost before cutting down the stems.
• After the ground begins to freeze, apply a 2–4 inch layer of loose mulch, such as shredded leaves, pine straw, or clean bark, in colder zones.
• Keep thick mulch directly away from the crown to reduce excess moisture and rot.
• Make sure the planting area drains well throughout winter, since cold, saturated soil can damage the bulbs.
• Remove or thin excess mulch in early spring as new shoots begin emerging.
• Divide crowded clumps in early fall every 3–5 years, or whenever flowering begins to decline.

Old-Fashioned Orange Tiger Lily offers bold color, impressive height, and nostalgic garden character at a time when many earlier perennials are beginning to fade. Its spotted, recurved flowers create a dramatic late-summer display, while its hardiness and ability to multiply make it a dependable addition to perennial borders and naturalized landscapes.