Key Features

• Growth Habit:
  • Upright, clump-forming bulbous perennial
  • Typically grows 36–48 inches tall and 12–18 inches wide
  • Produces multiple flowers on strong, sturdy stems
• Bloom Color:
  • Deep velvet-red petals with distinctive black spotting and recurved petals
• Fragrance:
  • Light to moderate sweet floral fragrance
• Fruit Flavor:
  • Not grown for edible fruit production
• Culinary Uses:
  • No culinary uses
  • Ornamental lilies should not be consumed
• Medicinal & Traditional Uses:
  • Primarily cultivated as an ornamental garden flower
  • While some lily species have historical traditional uses, Red Velvet Tiger Lily is grown for its ornamental beauty
• Wildlife Attraction & Pest Resistance:
  • Attracts butterflies, bees, and other pollinators
  • Moderately deer resistant, though young shoots and flower buds may require protection in areas with heavy deer pressure
  • Rabbit resistant once mature
  • Generally disease resistant with proper drainage
  • May occasionally attract lily beetles, aphids, or slugs
• Planting Zones: USDA Zones 3–8
• Sun Preferences:
  • Full sun to light partial shade
  • Best flowering occurs with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily
  • Prefers cool, shaded roots with sunny tops
• Drought Tolerance:
  • Moderate once established
  • Performs best with evenly moist, well-drained soil
• When to Prune:
  • Remove spent flowers after blooming to prevent seed production.
  • Leave stems and foliage intact until they naturally yellow and die back in late summer or fall.
  • Cut stems to ground level only after the foliage has completely browned, allowing the bulb to store energy for next year's blooms.

Planting Instructions (From Bulbs into the Ground)

1. Choose the Location

• Select a location with well-drained, fertile soil and full sun to partial shade.
• Avoid areas where water remains after rainfall.

2. Prepare the Soil

• Loosen soil 10–12 inches deep.
• Mix in compost or organic matter to improve fertility and drainage.

3. Dig the Hole

• Plant bulbs 4–6 inches deep (approximately three times the height of the bulb).
• Dig holes or trenches wide enough to comfortably accommodate the bulbs.

4. Position the Bulbs

• Place bulbs with the pointed end facing upward and roots downward.
• Cover with soil and gently firm the planting area.

5. Water Thoroughly

• Water deeply after planting to settle the soil around the bulbs.
• Keep soil lightly moist during active growth but avoid waterlogged conditions.

6. Mulch

• Apply a 2-inch layer of mulch to help conserve moisture and regulate soil temperature.

7. Spacing

• Space bulbs 8–12 inches apart to allow room for future multiplication and good air circulation.

Overwintering Red Velvet Tiger Lilies

In-Ground Plants

• Fully hardy throughout USDA Zones 3–8.
• Bulbs remain in the ground year-round and become larger and more floriferous with age.
• Apply a light mulch layer after the ground freezes in colder climates to protect against temperature fluctuations.

Winter Care Tips

• Do not remove foliage until it has completely died back naturally.
• Ensure the planting site has excellent winter drainage to prevent bulb rot.
• Avoid excessive winter moisture, particularly in heavy clay soils.

Spring Care

• Remove winter mulch as new shoots emerge.
• Apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer as growth begins.
• Monitor young shoots for slugs or lily beetles if present in your area.

Container-Grown Bulbs

• Move containers to a sheltered location where bulbs are protected from repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
• Water sparingly during dormancy, allowing the soil to remain only slightly moist.

Red Velvet Tiger Lilies are spectacular, easy-care perennials that produce richly colored crimson blooms with dramatic black spotting, bringing bold elegance to the summer garden. Their dependable hardiness, tall flowering stems, and long-lived bulbs make them an outstanding choice for perennial borders, cottage gardens, pollinator plantings, and stunning cut flower arrangements that return with even greater beauty each year.