The tiger lily (Lilium lancifolium or Lilium tigrinum) is a distinctive perennial. Its vibrant appearance, with striking orange, dark-spotted petals, makes it a popular choice for gardeners. Understanding its growth stages provides insights into its cultivation and life cycle.
The Dormant Bulb Stage
The tiger lily’s life cycle begins underground as a dormant bulb from late fall through winter. The bulb stores energy for the next year’s growth. Planted in fall or early spring, these bulbs survive freezing temperatures in the soil, especially with mulch. Cold stratification is naturally provided in winter, preparing the bulb to sprout.
Emergence and Early Shoot Development
As spring’s warmth returns, dormant tiger lily bulbs awaken and emerge. The first visible signs are reddish or purplish shoots pushing through the soil. These shoots establish the plant above ground. Lance-shaped leaves then unfurl, beginning photosynthesis for continued development.
Vegetative Growth and Stem Elongation
After emergence, the tiger lily undergoes rapid vegetative growth and stem elongation. The central stem grows taller, reaching 3 to 5 feet, sometimes up to 6 feet. Numerous lance-shaped leaves develop along the elongating stem, increasing foliage density. This phase builds a structural framework and accumulates energy for the upcoming flowering stage.
Budding and Flowering
As mid to late summer approaches, the tiger lily begins budding and flowering. Flower buds form at the apex of the main stem and in the axils of upper leaves, gradually swelling and signaling imminent color. The flowers open, revealing recurved orange petals with dark, purplish-brown spots. Each stem can produce multiple blooms. Individual flowers typically last for a few days, but the overall blooming period can extend for two to three weeks, creating a continuous display of vibrant color.
Post-Bloom Period and Seed Production
Once the blooms of the tiger lily fade, the plant transitions into its post-bloom period. If pollination occurs, the spent flowers give way to the development of seed pods, which are typically three-valved capsules containing numerous seeds. While tiger lilies produce seeds, their primary method of propagation is through formation of small, dark, pea-sized aerial bulblets, also known as bulbils. These bulbils develop in the axils of the leaves along the stem and are miniature clones of the parent plant. They can be harvested and planted to grow new tiger lilies, though it typically takes two to three years for a bulbil to mature into a flowering plant.
Preparing for Dormancy
As the growing season draws to a close, usually in late fall, the tiger lily begins its preparation for winter dormancy. The vibrant green foliage starts to yellow and eventually dies back, a natural process indicating that the plant is actively transferring its stored energy from the leaves and stems back into the underground bulb. It is beneficial to allow the foliage to remain on the plant until it has completely yellowed and withered, as this ensures maximum energy is transferred to the bulb, strengthening it for the next growth cycle. Once the foliage has fully died back, the stems can be cut to the ground, and the bulb will rest dormant through the colder months, ready to repeat its cycle in the following spring.