Hello summer, it's the tiger lilies!

Bold. Bright. Opulent.

Comes in various hues of orange with a strong and sweet smell, The Tiger Lily beams with pride, as though it knows exactly how good it looks. According to the floral dictionary, the Tiger Lily signifies wealth and pride. Don’t get it wrong though, this pride carries a positive connotation which exudes confidence, not vanity or arrogance. Nobility is also often associated with this fiery flower and a reason why it signifies a symbol of wealth.

Spotless Tiger Lily, close up (source: http://feelgrafix.com/905155-tiger-lily-flower.html)

Getting to know The Tiger Lily

It was first discovered in 1753 by a well-known Swedish botanist, Carl von Linne. There are five species of the tiger lily and these species are native to locations from western, southeastern and central North America, as well as central China and northern Asia to Japan.

Hybrid Tiger Lily (source: yardlovertimes.com)

Double Orange Tiger Lily (source: http://goo.gl/GjQviC)

Ditch Lily (source: http://goo.gl/J0kyJA)

Tiger lilies bloom in the earlier part of summer and is a favourite flower for this season. Of all the flowers in the world, this bright orange flower has the most unique looking petals. Some species come with spots that make them extra special - be it black or dark violet spots, it gives character to the tiger lily that cannot be seen on any other flower. This bold flower has six stamens that are made up of anthers and filaments; one pistil, with a long style; and a stigma with three lobes.

Do you know?

The Tiger Lily have a medical reputation for relieving nausea and nasal congestion.  It is a highly esteemed plant for its herbal values and almost all of its parts are edible (except for the pollen which can be toxic!).

However for cat owners, do note that the Tiger Lily is toxic to cats. So please keep your cats at bay from the flowers! And if you are planning to grow the Tiger Lily alongside your other lilies, please keep a distance too as tiger lilies can carry viral diseases and pass them on to your other lily species.  Gasp!

How To Care for your Tiger Lilly?

1. Upon unboxing your Bloom This package, allow 1-2 days for your Tiger Lilly buds to fully bloom in your favourite vase or jar filled with 1/3 water.
2. Though planted lilies do well in sunlight, cut lilies do not. Once cut, these flowers require a cool environment and away from direct sunlight to keep the blooms looking fresh longer.
3. To ensure that your lilies remain fresh for an extended period of time, carefully pluck the pollen from each of these stamens, with care not to allow the pollen to touch the petals. If the pollen gets on the flower petals, it can eat away at these delicate flower parts, leading to a shorter life for your blooms.
4. Like all flowers, lilies require fresh water to survive. Many lily bouquet recipients make the mistakes of filling up the vase once, then allowing the lilies to stay in the same potentially stagnant water until they wilt. To prolong the lives of your lilies, replace the water daily and trim the stems at a slant after 3 days.
5. And now, your space is beaming with pride!

Tiger Lily in a vase arrangement (source: https://goo.gl/uAlpIj)

Fun Trivia!

Do you know that in the Disney animated movie, ‘Peter Pan’ (2003), Tiger Lily is the character of an Indian Princess and daughter of the Native Chief? She is a loyal friend to Peter Pan.

Tiger Lily, the character (source: http://goo.gl/ucAoX5)

May your upcoming weekend be as bright as the tiger lilies, Bloomsters! Till next week, have a beautiful one.