Tiger Lily ‘Tiger Babies’ is a compact tiger lily cultivar valued for its bright, exotic-looking flowers and smaller garden footprint. It forms upright stems with narrow, glossy green leaves arranged along the length of the stem. In mid to late summer, the plant produces vivid orange blooms covered in dark burgundy to black spotting, characteristic of tiger lilies. The petals curve slightly backward, giving the flowers a graceful, nodding appearance. Compared to traditional tiger lilies, ‘Tiger Babies’ stays shorter and more manageable, making it ideal for smaller gardens, borders, and containers while still delivering the bold colour and classic tiger lily look.
- Size: Height: 60–90 cm (2–3 ft). Spread: 30–45 cm (12–18 in)
- Flowering: Mid to late summer
- Growth habit: Upright clumping perennial arising from bulbs
- Light: Full sun to partial shade; flowers best with several hours of direct sun.
- Soil: Well-drained, fertile garden soil; tolerates average soils if drainage is good.
- Water: Moderate watering; keep soil evenly moist during active growth.
- Hardiness: Very hardy (Zones 3–8), suitable for prairie climates such as Regina, SK.
- Planting depth: Plant bulbs about 10–15 cm (4–6 in) deep and space 30–40 cm apart.
- Maintenance: Remove spent blooms; allow foliage to die back naturally to replenish the bulb.
- Propagation: Bulb division or planting small bulbils that may develop along the stem.
- Support: Usually not required due to its shorter, sturdier stems.