Description and characteristics of tiger lily varieties, cultivation and propagation

Tiger or lanceolate lily is found naturally in China and Japan. The perennial representative of the Liliaceae family is of East Asian origin, but despite this, it is characterized by high frost resistance. In their homeland, flowers are grown not only to decorate the area, their bulbs are eaten, and seasonings are made from the buds. Caring for a tiger lily is no more difficult than caring 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, and 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 lily bulb has a white tint and wide scales, its size is about 8 cm. A distinctive feature of the tiger lily is the presence of bud bulbs in the axils of the leaves.

Varieties and hybrids of tiger lily

The wild-growing representative became the basis on which breeders developed new varieties and hybrids, which today are successfully cultivated on the plots of Russian gardeners:

• Knight Flyer. Characterized by burgundy-red buds with slight dark inclusions. It develops in height up to 110-120 cm, flower diameter is about 16 cm. This variety is easy to propagate and is famous for its high winter hardiness.
• Flora Pleno. It has double-type flowers, a bright red hue, with about 30 petals. As they grow, they curl back. Flora Pleno is one of the most cold-resistant varieties, therefore it can withstand temperatures down to -35 degrees. Does not exceed 1 meter in height.
• Splendence. The hallmark 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 in both sunny and shaded areas, and 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 disadvantage of this variety is that it is more often affected by viral infections than others.
• Citronella. The color of the buds of the variety is yellow, with dark spots scattered across the surface of the petals. It grows up to 130 cm, the size of the buds is within 12-13 cm. It has one of the longest flowering periods among all tiger lily varieties.

Advantages and disadvantages

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

The benefits of the plant include:

• Spectacular appearance and varied colors of buds.
• Easy to care for.
• High frost resistance.
• Ease of reproduction.
• Possibility of quick distillation at home.

Among the disadvantages are the following:

• Requirements for soil composition.
• Infection with diseases due to lack of care.

Features of growing flowers

They start growing flowers by determining the planting location and preparing the bulbs. The health of the plant and its decorative qualities depend on these criteria.

Landing location

A slightly elevated area with good drainage is ideal for planting tiger lily bulbs. The place should be protected from strong gusts of wind, which can break the stems. Lily is a lover of sunlight, but the root zone must be protected from overheating. For this purpose, 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 on the site is clayey, this can be corrected by adding sand, lime and wood ash. It will not be superfluous to add humus if the land is not too fertile.

Preparation of seedlings

Purchase tiger lily bulbs from 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 to increase survival rate 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 until spring.

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

• Make small holes measuring 20 x 20 cm. The bulb must be buried 10-12 cm.
• Sand is poured into the bottom of each hole; this will improve the permeability of the soil and create drainage.
• After the bulbs are buried, the soil is watered abundantly, and the surface is mulched with a thick layer of peat chips.

Now all that remains is to wait for the first green sprouts to appear on the surface.

Subtleties of plant care

The abundance and duration of flowering, as well as the decorative qualities of the crop, depend on properly organized care for the tiger lily.

Bloom

During the flowering period, which begins for 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 the lilies.

Trimming

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

Temperature

A comfortable temperature for a tiger lily is considered to be between 20-27 degrees. It is better to place flowers in light partial shade, but the plant also feels fine in direct sunlight. The only thing is that in this case you will have to plant low-growing crops around the root zone, which will provide shade in extreme heat and keep the soil moist.

Watering

When moistening the soil around the tiger lily, be careful - drops of liquid should under no circumstances fall on the leaves, as this will lead to severe burns. The procedure is carried out in the morning. The frequency of moistening depends on the place where the lily grows. If it is in the shade, then it does not need watering at all; if it is an open sunny place, then irrigation is recommended once a week. To delay the evaporation of liquid from the soil, the root circle is mulched with sawdust or peat chips. After the flowering period ends, moisturizing is stopped altogether and resumed only with the arrival of spring.

Lighting

For a beautiful decorative appearance, the tiger lily requires sunlight in the first half of the day. In the shade, the color of the buds will be faded.

Fertilizer

If the soil in the area where the tiger lily is placed is nutritious, the plant does not need additional fertilizer. On poor soils, it is recommended to fertilize once a month, using mineral and organic compounds. You can also purchase complex options designed for bulbous plants in gardening stores. After the lily has bloomed, stop fertilizing.

Reproduction and transplantation

In frequent replanting tiger lily does not need. It is enough to carry out this procedure once every 4-5 years, combining it with the propagation and rejuvenation of plantings.

There are several methods for growing a tiger-colored lily on your property:

• Bulbs. The simplest and most effective method, but it requires investment in purchasing planting material. Create a drainage system in the selected area, add nutritional complexes and deepen the bulbs by 10-12 cm.
• Bud bulbs. They are formed in the axils of the leaves and make it possible to obtain planting material without extra costs. At the end of summer, they are carefully separated from the mother plant and planted in previously prepared boxes with nutritious soil. Over the winter they will take root properly, and in the spring they are planted in a permanent place in the garden.
• Scales. Another inexpensive method of breeding. At the time of transplantation, the largest scales are separated from the adult bulb and planted in damp sand. They also use sphagnum moss or vermiculite for this. They create greenhouse conditions for the scales and wait for roots to appear. Periodically, the improvised 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 results. This method is often used by breeders to develop new hybrids and varieties of ornamental plants.

Disease and pest control

Common tiger lily diseases that result from care errors include:

• fusarium;
• gray rot;
• rust;
• gall tumor.

They are fought with fungicides: “Alirin”, “Maxim”.

Among the insect pests that rarely affect the crop:

• leaf beetles and cutworms;
• thrips and hoverflies;
• aphids and lily flies.

Insecticides solve the problem of flower damage by insects when treated in a timely manner.

Among the most effective are “Confidor”, “Aktara”, “Aktellik”.

Flower in landscape design

The tiger lily itself is a bright accent in the decoration of the site. Low-growing or ground-cover green plants are selected to accompany her. The flower also looks impressive against the background of coniferous bushes.