All About Tiger Lillies
The Tiger Lily (also known as the Ditch Lily) is a large bright orange flower. Known by many names, the Tiger Lily is also referred to as the Oregon Lily, Devil Lily, Leopard Lily, Western Wood Lily, Pine Lily, Columbia Lily and Western Red Lily, among others. Its petals are covered with spots, thus referencing the tiger in its name. The Tiger Lily is a perennial flower that grows wild and is commonly found in ditches across America. For the most part, the Tiger Lily is an edible flower and has a distinctive sweet smell, common to most lilies. The two kinds of Tiger Lily that exist are the common wildflower variety and the oriental variety. The former grow via a bulb and the latter grows using a tuberous root. Both have roots that are edible. The Tiger Lily also had medicinal properties, as it is often used to relieve congestion and pregnancy woes such as nausea or vomiting.
The wildflower variety of the Tiger Lily is easy to grow and does not require much attention. They enjoy and thrive in wet soil. This is why they grow so well and are commonly found near ditches. Their bulbs should be planted in early to mid fall, and in warmer climates they can be planted in the late fall. Because the Tiger Lily does not produce any seed, they need to be propagated with the bulb. These are the small bulbs that grow between the leaf stalk and stem. They can be planted and grown in a nursery and then later transplanted outdoors.
No special instructions or fertilizer are needed to properly grow this flower. If insects are a problem, you can defend your plant by growing the Tiger Lily in raised pots. It's important to keep in mind that the Tiger Lily can be toxic to cats. Ingesting the flower can induce vomiting and cause the cats to become lethargic. It also can cause kidney failure, or in the worst cases, death.
