Lilium tigrinum var. splendens

Are you growing the true Tiger Lily yet? These glowing turk's caps blooms of brightest orange with black spots are so handsome in early to midsummer. Just 2 inches wide, they have an impact far greater than their size would suggest. And on this compact plant, they arise abundantly and last several weeks in garden or vase.

Tiger Lily is just 3½ to 4 feet high, spreading up to 2 feet wide within just a few seasons. Each bloom is a distinctively beautiful jewel, elegantly recurved and dangling from short stems. A mature Tiger Lily will sport up to 2 dozen blooms on every stem; even a young plant is good for a dozen or so!

The origins of this lily are not certain. We know that it was identified in 1870, when a single bulb arrived at a Belgian nursery as part of a shipment of Oriental lilies from Japan. It has not been found in the wild, leading to speculation that it is itself a hybrid of other species. Instead of setting seed, it offers showy black bulbils along the leaf axils of the stem. (If you gently remove them and plant them in fall, they will flower true to name within 3 years.)

Tiger Lily fares best in full sun in all but the warmest climates, where it appreciates a bit of afternoon shade. It is not fragrant -- its beauty is all in its form and color! And it is one of the most disease-free of all lilies, a fact that leads some gardeners to grow it apart from other lily varieties that might not share its great resistance to virus. With its compact stature and ease of care, it is certainly a welcome presence in just about any well-drained, sun-soaked soil.

A fine cut-flower, Tiger Lily is one of the most beautiful of all the family. The Royal Horticulture Society granted it the coveted Award of Garden Merit, and one glance will show you why. You will find yourself admiring these magnificent blooms again and again. Do add this exciting and distinctive plant to your garden this season. Zones 3-8.