Tiger lilies are a hardy perennial that grow successfully through out much of the US. Sometimes known as “orange day lilies” or “ditch lilies”, tiger lilies are colorful wildflowers with a tuberous root system. Tiger lilies are fast to propagate, and often can be found in dense clusters with bladelike leaves reaching 30 inches in length or more. The stem and flowers of this wild day lily grow a one to two feet above the leaves which makes for a fantastic show of color.
In addition to the stunning orange color of the blossoms, what makes tiger lilies a popular favorite is their ease of care. These old fashioned plants require little maintenance, are pest resistant, and require only minimal amounts of sun. Propagation by “splitting” the root system is also easy to do, especially for beginning gardeners. Here’s how it’s done:
Supplies and instructions.
Tiger lily roots are tuberous, that is, instead of having a network of spidery roots, these roots look more like underdeveloped yams. The best time to propagate and transplant tiger lily roots is in the early spring just as the plants are first starting to emerge from the ground. Late fall also works; be sure to mark the area with stakes so that the tuberous root system can be located when it’s time to dig.
Supplies needed for splitting tiger lilies include a shovel and access to water.
1. Determine before transplanting where the new cluster of tiger lilies will be planted. If the soil is dry, run a sprinkler over this area for 15 minutes to soften. Remember to select an area that is partially shaded or has periods of some shade throughout the day.
2. Examine the tiger lily patch to locate a dense cluster of leaf shoots. Staring at a point several inches away from this clump, press the entire shovel blade into the ground at a steep angle. Repeat on the opposite end, this time keeping the blade in the ground.
3. Using the shovel blade as the fulcrum, pull down the shovel handle to “lift” the network of roots up out of the ground. Gather up the root system with your hands. Depending on the size of the root network, gently pull apart the cluster into two or three equally sized sections.
4. To plant in the new bed, dig a hole about four inches deep. Place one root cluster inside the newly dug hole, cover with loose soil, and then gently tamp down into place. Water. Repeat for remaining root clusters.
While the individual stalks can be pulled apart and planted separately if desired, single tiger lily plants don’t quite have the eye-catching appeal of a cluster. Splitting a large cluster into two or three smaller clusters for transplanting is the best way to propagate ditch lilies for the showiest display of color.
