Can You Grow Tiger Lilies From Seeds?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Most , including the tiger lily, are grown from bulbs. However,

the tiger lily can also be grown from seeds harvested from the plants

. Put two tiger lily seeds into each of your plastic sandwich bags about three weeks before the last frost.

Where are the seeds on tiger lilies?

A • Lily seeds develop

in the green pods that remain on the flower stalk after the petals drop

. The true Tiger Lily (Lilium lancifolium), however, is usually sterile and produces no seeds unless hand pollinated.

What do the seeds of a tiger lily look like?

Tiger lilies thrive in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 9. The seeds, actually called “bulbils,” are

small round structures, typically dark purple to almost black in color

. Bulbils are found at the plant's leaf axils — the area where the leaf joins the stem.

Can you save tiger lily seeds?

Plant Expert Reply:

You can plant the seeds now or harvest and save them to plant later. If you want to save them

wait until the pod opens and collect the seed

. Place the seed in a plastic resealable bag. Be sure to remove as much air as possible.

What are the black seeds on lily plants?

Are they seeds or what? These little black growths, called bulbils, are really

aerial bulbs

. They contain all the genetic material needed to start a new plant. They form between the leaf and stem on tiger lilies and several other hardy lilies.

Do tiger lilies come back every year?


The bulbs will come back year after year

with little effort on your part, and they'll likely spread to form clumps. You also can grow these flowers in a cutting garden or containers. The key is to plant your tiger lilies in a spot with good drainage, as a waterlogged area can rot the bulbs4.

How long does it take lilies to grow from seed?

You can start lilies from seeds but it may take

up to seven years

for it to grow into a flowering plan. Harvest the seed when the seed pods dry and the tops begin to split. Some lily seeds need no special treatment to start growing.

Do tiger lilies need full sun?


Establish beds of tiger lily bulbs in full sunlight

as these lilies are sun-loving flowers. If you plant Lilium lancifolium in a shaded or partially shaded area, they will tend to lean in the direction of the sunlight. In full sun, they will grow tall, straight, and strong.

How do you propagate tiger lilies?

A: Tiger lilies propagate themselves in three different ways: from bulbils that form between leaves and the stem; from bulblets that form next to the parent bulb in the soil and from seed, which form in a pod behind the flower if it is successfully pollinated.

Do lilies have seed pods?

During the active growing season, lilies flowers bloom near the tips of the stalks.

They later shrivel leaving the ovary to ripen and form the seed pod

. Immature pods have a pale green color with an ovate, lobed shape. The size and shape of the seed pods vary depending on different species of lilies.

How do you grow lilies from seed?

  1. Plant lily seeds requiring epigeal germination in the fall. Act as soon as possible after the seeds mature.
  2. Sow seeds outdoors in well-draining, fertile soil. Space them one-half to 1 inch apart and soak the soil when planting is done. …
  3. Apply a two-inch layer of mulch to keep down weeds.

Are tiger lily seeds poisonous?


The tiger lily is an extremely toxic flower to have around your pets

. While it may not kill your dog, he can still suffer severe consequences. The most common toxicity symptom seen in dogs is gastrointestinal upset. Tiger lily toxicity rarely leads to death in dogs, but it is always a possibility.

Do lilies self seed?

Martagon, lancifolium and pardalinum lilies are happy when grown in a position of dappled shade and

will often self-seed

and make a wonderful colony under deciduous trees. They are all ideal for naturalising.

Can you grow lily from cuttings?

These easy-care perennials usually are grown from bulbs.

You can't grow lilies directly from stem cuttings

; instead, they must first form bulbils or bulblets. You also can harvest the seeds and grow lilies from seed, although it takes much longer.

What are lily seeds?

Lily seeds are

the seeds of the water lily plant, specifically the plant euryale ferox, the only extant species in the genus Euryale

. The prickly flower rises above a giant lily pad in naturally occurring pond ecosystems.

What month do tiger lilies bloom?

Tiger lilies grow from spring to fall, with

mid- to late-summer

blooms. Bulbs take 120 to 130 days to grow and bear their flowers, so first-year blooming depends on timely and correct planting.

How do you multiply lilies?

Are tiger lilies poisonous to dogs?

The Peruvian lily, tiger lily, daylily and Easter lily are all classified as

nontoxic to dogs

. While these types of lilies may be classified as nontoxic, they can still cause unpleasant reactions in a dog. The introduction of any new, novel foods into any pet's diet can cause GI upset.

Should you remove seed pods from lilies?

From a plant health perspective,

seed pods should be removed so that daylilies will produce more flowers next season

. Deadheading daylilies isn't difficult, only time consuming. Don't feel like you have to deadhead your daylilies every day.

How long does it take for lilies to bloom from seed?

The only “special equipment” needed is patience: though with special care a few species will flower in their first year from sowing, most take

two or three years – a few even take up to seven

. See ‘Lilies to Start With' below.

Do lilies bloom the first year?


Newly planted bulbs sometimes don't bloom at all the first growing season but will do just fine starting in year two

. Older lilies might not perform on schedule either. In time, lilies just run out of steam and stop producing flowers. This is especially true if too many bulbs are crowded together underground.

David Martineau
Author
David Martineau
David is an interior designer and home improvement expert. With a degree in architecture, David has worked on various renovation projects and has written for several home and garden publications. David's expertise in decorating, renovation, and repair will help you create your dream home.