Can Cold Weather Kill an Asian Tiger Lily?

Cold Tolerance

• When dormant in winter, tiger lily bulbs survive in the soil in climates where winter temperatures drop as low as -30 degrees Fahrenheit. In spring, warmer soil stimulates tender new growth. The new shoots are frost-sensitive, and a late freeze can damage them. If the weather calls for frost, you can cover tiger lilies to help protect the new growth. Use garden fabric and lay it over the plants. Support the fabric with stakes so that it is not directly lying on the delicate stems.

Frost Damage

• When a late spring frost does damage new tiger lily shoots, it will cause the leaves and flower buds to turn brown. Rather than remove the damaged growth, leave it in place. Even if flowering is prevented during the growing season, the bulbs under the soil will still take in some nutrients from the damaged growth. Flowering might be reduced for the growing season, but the tiger lilies will likely grow and bloom well in the next season.

Growth Cycle

• Tiger lilies bloom in late spring and summer on 3- to 4-foot-tall stalks. The flowers are bright orange and sprinkled with black speckles. In early fall, the flowers die and are replaced by seedpods. In late fall and early winter, tiger lilies die back to the ground and remain dormant until the next growing season. Tiger lilies take two to three years to flower when planted from dormant bulbs. If you want flowers right away, plant actively growing plants.

Planting

• Tiger lilies are commonly planted from dormant bulbs in the fall 2 to 3 inches deep in the soil. Within the growing zone, the dormant bulbs are protected from freezing through the winter by the natural insulation of the soil. You can also plant actively growing plants in spring and summer. If you plant in spring in frost-prone areas, wait until the last frost-date to plant. Space tiger lilies 12 inches apart in a spot with full sun and good drainage.

Transplanting and Care

• To encourage more flowers, deadhead tiger lilies periodically through the blooming season as each flower dies. Wait to cut the foliage until the plants die back naturally. Keep tiger lilies warm and improve the soil by spreading a 4-inch-deep layer of compost over the bulbs in fall. Transplant tiger lilies any time during the growing season by digging up the whole clump and moving it to a new area. Fall is the best time to propagate tiger lilies by division. Dig up the roots in fall after the plants go dormant and separate the clump into individual bulbs. Replant the bulbs right away.