Not to Be Missed: Tiger Lilies

Isn't that spectacular? Tiger lilies -- Lilium lancefolium or Lilium tigrenum -- absolutely earn their place in the garden. These babies don't have a scent, but even to me -- I've planted fragrant herbs all over the place -- their striking beauty is worth any space we can afford them. 

One of my bad gardening habits is that I'm really terrible about popping bulbs into the garden without noting the location. It becomes a problem when I plant something right in the middle of some bulbs. Towards the end of last year, I found I had to dig up more than twenty bulbs while trying to balance out the garden with some year-round greenery. Surprise!

These weren't all in one place. While I had no doubt that I was the one who had purchased and planted the bulbs, I no longer recalled what kind of bulbs they were. If I knew, I wouldn't have planted the tiger lilies in front of a curbside bed. They're beautiful, but they're too tall and spindly to be at the front of a bed. I will move them again once their season is over. Let that be a lesson to you -- I mean me!

Native to Asia, these plants aren't invasive and add an interesting splash of color in the garden.

What to expect from them:

In mild climates, they bloom mid to late summer. They only bloom once a year, but each plant can have as many as ten flowers.

They are not tender or picky plants, but they have their preferences. For best performance, they need moist, well-draining soil, sunshine, and some protection from afternoon sun.

They're not known to be particularly aggressive, but they will multiply.

They usually grow between two to five feet tall.

So, our curbside beds face south and are generally dry. I could not have chosen a worse place to plunk down those jewels! But now that I know firsthand how gorgeous they are, I will probably add more to the garden. I'll find some area to plant them all together. 

Won't I? Of course I will!

Happy Gardening!