Growing Tigridia or Tiger Plants

Tigridia is also called the Mexican shell flower or the Tiger Flower due to its shape and spotted petals.

Facts about Tigridia

• This exotic Mexican bulb is also sometimes called the Peacock flower, an appropriate name in view of its quite startling colour combinations.
• Tigridia Pavonia flowers are short lived but often several flowers will bloom from the same stalk.
• Many colour combinations are available including scarlet, orange, pink, yellow, mauve and white, usually with contrasting markings.
• Tigridia is not very hardy and is grown as a tender summer bulb planted in spring and dug up again in autumn for storing in a dry frost-free place.
• Tigridia needs all the sun it can get to encourage flowering and ripen the bulb to ensure a similar display the following year.
• Tigridia makes a good greenhouse potted bulb.
• Leaves are long and pointe with colour variation that looks like stripes.

The leaves are long and pleated, tapering to a point

More coloured Tigridia photographs.

Read more on the Pacific Bulb Society site

Tips on Growing Tigridia

• The Tigridia pavonia is a half-hardy bulbous plant from South America.
• Tigridia flowers with full sun, any time between June and September. At the end of the day it closes and shrivels.
• Do not cut the stem as it may flower again from another bud lower down.
• The corms should to be dug up in the autumn and stored dry and frost-free until the following spring.
• Propagate by cormlets, removing them to be grown separately. They should be big enough to produce flowers in a couple of years.
• Beware of snails who love the juicy flesh.

Thompson Morgan