Tiger lily is an herbaceous perennial member of the lily family (Liliaceae). It is classified in the Asiatic Lily group. It is native to far eastern Russia, Tibet, China, the Korean Peninsula and Japan but has escaped and naturalized in many parts of the world, including eastern North America. The species epithet is Latin meaning “lance-shaped leaves” and describes the leaf shape. Tiger lily is one of the easiest species to grow… and one of the hardest to contain within its allotted space in the garden. It thrives in full sun on moist, acidic soil. In shadier conditions, it will survive but flower production will be poor. The plants produce bulbils–one in every leaf axil–that drop to the ground and grow. They are the easiest way to propagate this species, but they can also allow this species to spread aggressively in the border. This species is believed to be a sterile triploid throughout much of its introduced range, suggesting that the plants throughout eastern North America are genetically identical clones. Tiger lilies do not produce fruits or seeds, nor are they used in breeding programs. The flowers are colorful but not fragrant. Tiger lily can be used in butterfly gardens, children’s gardens or Asian gardens. It can also be used for cutting. Grow this species in the border or in containers, but be warned: this species spreads. Consider using other lilies, such as the Asiatic Hybrids, that do not produce bulbils. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This species spreads asexually and can become weedy. VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Edibles, Bulbs, and Houseplants," a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens. More information on Lilium .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Papery
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The tall stems bear leaves for their entire length. The leaves are lanceolate and medium green.
Flower color
Orange
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower size
3-6 inches
Flower detail
Flowers are pendulous with recurved tepals. They are bright orange with dark spots on their inner surface. The anthers and stigma are exserted.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit detail
The species is a sterile triploid and does not bear fruit.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Tiger lily bears bulbils--small bulbs--in the axils of leaves. These bulbils will fall to ground and grow to produce new plants, clones of the mother plant. The bulbils are produced in profusion, and this lily can become weedy.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Russia, China, Japan, Tibet
Distribution
Naturalized in eastern North America.
Wildlife value
Flowers attract swallowtail butterflies.
Attracts
Butterflies; Hummingbirds
Food & Medicine
Edibility
The bulbs are said to be edible.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Patio; Small Space
Landscape theme
Asian Garden; Butterfly Garden; Children's Garden; Cutting Garden
Design feature
Accent; Border; Mass Planting
Garden tags
#showy flowers #orange flowers #large flowers #non-toxic for horses #non-toxic for dogs #problem for cats #weedy #aggressive #bulbils
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Bulb Mites; Aphids on Ornamental Landscape Plants; Slugs & Snails on Ornamental Plants; Potato Aphid on Ornamental Plants; Narcissus Bulb Fly