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Tiger Lily

What is tiger lily?

· Sarah Mitchell

Key facts

Common name Tiger lily[1]
Scientific name Lilium lancifolium[2]
Synonym Lilium tigrinum[1]
Family Liliaceae[2]
Native range Far eastern Russia, Tibet, China, the Korean Peninsula, Japan[2]
Flower color Orange with black or purplish-black spots[1]

Tiger lily is a common name for Lilium lancifolium, an Asian lily with orange flowers marked with black or purplish-black spots, and is also used for similar lilies.

Context

Tiger lily (Lilium lancifolium) is a herbaceous perennial in the lily family, native to parts of Asia including far eastern Russia, Tibet, China, the Korean Peninsula, and Japan [2]. It is classified in the Asiatic Lily group and has escaped cultivation to naturalize in many regions, including eastern North America [2]. The flowers are orange with black or purplish-black spots, and the name is also used for other lilies with similar blooms [1].

Documented claims

  • Tiger lily is an herbaceous perennial in the lily family. [2]
  • It has escaped cultivation and naturalized in many parts of the world, including eastern North America. [2]
  • The name is also applied to other lilies with similar flowers. [1]

Questions and answers

Are tiger lilies native to Canada?

No, tiger lilies are native to Asia, not Canada. They have naturalized in eastern North America but are not native there [2].

What's the difference between daylilies and tiger lilies?

Tiger lilies are true lilies in the Liliaceae family, while daylilies belong to a different genus. Tiger lilies have spotted orange flowers and grow from bulbs [2].

Do tiger lilies grow back every year?

Yes, tiger lilies are herbaceous perennials, meaning they return each year from their bulbs [2].

Sources

  1. TIGER LILY Definition & Meaning — merriam-webster.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. tiger lily ▶ — vdict.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in Things