Tiger lily: description and characteristics of varieties, cultivation and reproduction

Tiger, or lanceolate lily in its natural environment is found in China and Japan. A perennial representative of the Lilein family is of East Asian origin, but despite this, it is characterized by high frost resistance. At home, flowers are grown not only for decorating the site, their bulbs are eaten, and seasonings are made from buds. Caring for a tiger lily is no more difficult than for any other variety.

General Description

With proper care, the tiger lily reaches a height of up to 2 meters. It is decorated with large flowers - up to 15 cm in diameter.It is noteworthy that this lily is completely devoid of fragrance. The shades of the petals are different - there are yellow, dark pink, red representatives. The flowering period begins in July and lasts about a month. At this time, up to 10 buds can be observed on one stem at once.

The bulb of the lily has a white hue and wide scales, its size is about 8 cm. A distinctive feature of the tiger lily is the presence of buds in the axils of the leaves.

Tiger lily varieties and hybrids

The wild-growing representative became the basis on which breeders bred new varieties and hybrids that are now successfully cultivated on the plots of Russian gardeners:

Night Flyer. It is characterized by burgundy-red buds with slight dark patches. It grows up to 110-120 cm in height, the flower diameter is about 16 cm. This variety is easy to propagate and is famous for its high winter hardiness.
Flora Pleno. It has terry-type flowers, a bright red hue, in which there are about 30 petals. As they grow, they twist back. Flora Pleno is one of the most cold-resistant varieties, therefore it can withstand temperatures as low as -35 degrees. Does not exceed 1 meter in height.
Splendance. The visiting card of the variety is bright orange flowers, which are covered with abundant dark purple spots. During the flowering period, about 20 buds are tied on one stem. It is characterized by the fact that it grows equally well both in sunny and shaded areas, does not exceed 1 meter in height.
Pink Tiger. The diameter of one pink or red-orange bud is about 10 cm. Dark dots are scattered over the entire surface of the petals. It grows up to 120 cm in height and has a drooping flower shape. The minus of the variety is that it is most often affected by viral infections.
Citronella. The color of the buds of the variety is yellow, dark spots are scattered on the surface of the petals. Grows up to 130 cm, bud size 12-13 cm. Has one of the longest flowering periods of any tiger lily.

Pros and cons

Before making a decision to grow a tiger lily, the strengths and weaknesses of the flower are assessed and, based on this, the expediency of planting is determined.

The benefits of the plant include:

Effective appearance and varied color of buds.
Easy to care for.
High frost resistance.
Easy to breed.
Possibility of quick distillation at home.

Among the shortcomings are:

Demanding on the composition of the soil.
Stricken by diseases without care.

Features of growing flowers

Start growing flowers by determining the planting site and preparing the bulbs. The he alth of the plant and its decorative qualities depend on these criteria.

Place of landing

A slightly elevated area with good drainage is ideal for planting tiger lily bulbs. The place should be protected from strong gusts of wind that can break the stems. Lily is a lover of sunlight, but the root zone must be protected from overheating. To this end, gardeners plant ground cover plants around the flower.

Nutritious and slightly acidic soil is what the tiger lily needs for successful growth and flowering. If the soil in the area is clayey, correct this by adding sand, lime and wood ash. It will not be superfluous to introduce humus if the land is not too fertile.

Preparation of seedlings

Purchase tiger lily bulbs in nurseries or flower shops that provide a certificate of product conformity.Before planting, each specimen must be inspected for the presence of dark spots, dry scales and traces of fungal infections and mold. It is recommended to treat each bulb with a weak solution of potassium permanganate in order to increase survival and get rid of pathogens.

Landing

It is recommended to start planting tiger lily bulbs in early autumn or late August. If early frosts are expected in the region, the process is postponed to spring.

The algorithm for planting a tiger lily is carried out as follows:

Make small holes 20 x 20 cm in size. It is necessary to deepen the bulb by 10-12 cm.
Sand is poured into the bottom of each hole, this will improve the permeability of the soil and create drainage.
After deepening the bulbs, the soil is watered abundantly, and the surface is mulched with a thick layer of peat chips.

Now it remains only to wait for the first green sprouts to appear on the surface.

Subtleties of plant care

The profusion and duration of flowering, as well as the decorative qualities of the culture, depend on properly organized care of the tiger lily.

Flowering

During the flowering period, which begins at the tiger lily in July, the plant needs regular watering and fertilization. Also, faded buds are removed from the stems in a timely manner. The soil around each crop is loosened after each irrigation, simultaneously getting rid of weeds that take away the necessary nutrition from lilies.

Cutting

In preparation for the winter period, the lily stem is cut off, leaving only a 10-centimeter stump above the soil.

Temperature

Comfortable for a tiger lily is considered a temperature in the range of 20-27 degrees. It is better to place flowers in light partial shade, but the plant feels fine in the sun.The only thing is that in this case, you will have to plant low-growing crops around the root zone, which will give shade in extreme heat and keep the soil moist.

Irrigation

When moistening the soil around the tiger lily, be careful - drops of liquid should never fall on the leaves, as this will lead to severe burns.Carry out the procedure in the morning. The frequency of moisture depends on the place where the lily grows. If it is a shade, then it does not need watering at all, if it is an open sunny place, then irrigation once a week is recommended. To delay the evaporation of liquid from the soil, the root circle is mulched with sawdust or peat chips. After the flowering period ends, moisture is stopped altogether and resumed only with the advent of spring.

Lighting

Tiger lily needs sunlight in the morning for a beautiful decorative look. In the shade, the color of the buds will be faded.

Fertilizer

If the soil is nutritious in the area where the tiger lily was placed, the plant does not need additional fertilization. On poor soils, it is recommended to fertilize once a month, using mineral and organic compounds for this. They also purchase complex options for bulbous plants in gardening stores. After the lily has faded, fertilization is stopped.

Reproduction and transplantation

Tiger lily does not need frequent transplantation. It is enough to carry out this procedure every 4-5 years, combining with reproduction and rejuvenation of plantings.

You can breed a brindle lily on the plot in several ways:

Bulbs. The easiest and most effective way, but requires investment in the purchase of planting material. They create a drainage system in the selected area, introduce nutrient complexes and deepen the bulbs by 10-12 cm.
Buds. They are formed in the axils of the leaves and make it possible to obtain planting material at no extra cost. At the end of summer, they are carefully separated from the mother plant and planted in pre-prepared boxes with nutrient soil. During the winter, they will take root properly, and in the spring they are planted in a permanent place in the garden.
Scales. Another inexpensive breeding method. At the time of transplantation, the largest scales are separated from the adult bulb and planted in wet sand. Also take moss-sphagnum or vermiculite for this. They create greenhouse conditions for the scales and wait for the roots to appear. Periodically, a makeshift greenhouse is opened for ventilation.
Seeds. Not a popular method among gardeners due to the low germination of the material and the long wait for the result. This method is more often used by breeders to develop new hybrids and varieties of ornamental plants.

Disease and pest control

Among the common tiger lily diseases caused by care errors include:

fusarium;
grey rot;
rust;
gall tumor.

They are fought with fungicides: Alirin, Maxim.

From insect pests, culture is occasionally affected:

leaf beetles and cutworms;
thrips and hoverflies;
aphids and lily fly.

Insecticides solve the problem of insect damage to flowers with timely treatment.

Among the most effective are "Confidor", "Aktara", "Aktellik".

Flower in landscape design

Tiger lily itself is a bright accent in decorating the site. In the company, undersized or ground cover green plants are selected for it. The flower also looks spectacular against the background of coniferous shrubs.