Blooming Tiger Lilies
My long, winding pergola is full of striking orange-colored tiger lily blooms.
This pergola goes through several transformations during the year. In late spring, a palette of bold purple alliums covers the area, followed by the delicate shades of lavender and blue from the flowering clematis vines that wrap around each of the granite posts. Now, hundreds of brightly spotted tiger lilies line the garden bed for all to see. If you recall, these lilies were just transplanted here last fall - and they are thriving. Enjoy these photos.
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- Tiger lilies, Lilium lancifolium or Lilium Tigrinum, bloom in mid to late summer, are easy to grow, and come back year after year.
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- Native to China and Japan, these robust flowers add striking beauty to any border. I love how they look with their bright and showy orange colored blooms.
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- Last year, these lilies were across the carriage road in a garden outside my Tenant House. They were transplanted last fall along the clematis pergola. I am so happy with how well they are doing in this new location.
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- Tiger lilies are covered with black or deep crimson spots, giving the appearance of the skin of a tiger.
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- They have large, down-facing flowers, each with six recurved petals. Many flowers can be up to five-inches in diameter.
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- These flowers are very hardy, and perform best in full sun or part shade.
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- For best growth, they should be planted in an area where they can get six to eight hours of sun per day.
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- Tiger lilies are also not fussy about soil as long as it is well-drained.
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- The best time to plant lily bulbs is either early spring or mid- to late fall. Lilies prefer cool soil, below 60-degrees Fahrenheit, to root properly.
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- Mature bulbs can produce up to 10 blossoms per stem, growing larger and more productive each year.
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- These lilies can grow very tall – up to five or even six-feet, on slender stems.
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- Lilies are one of the top cut flowers in the world because of their long vase life and flower form.
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- When cutting, choose buds that are just about to open. These dramatic flowers can last up to two weeks when cut.
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- Lilies are well-known for having heavily pollenated stamens, which stain. If using them as cut flowers, gently pull the anthers off as soon as the flowers open.
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- I grow many different types of lilies in my gardens – and, this year, they’re all thriving. For more great tips on planting and caring for lilies, go to my web site. http://www.marthastewart.com/270059/planting-and-caring-for-lilies
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