Tigridia pavonia
peacock tiger flower
A bulbous perennial with lance-shaped leaves up to 50cm long, and orange, pink, red, yellow or white flowers up to 15cm across, with three petals and contrasting central markings, produced in succession in summer
Other common names
flower of TigrisMexican shell flower
see moreMexican tiger flower
peacock tiger iris
tiger flower
Aztec lily
peacock flower
Synonyms
Tigridia pavonia mixed colours
Size
Ultimate height
1–1.5 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0–0.1 metreGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Orange Pink Red White Yellow | Green | ||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
West–facing or South–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H1CBotanical details
- Family
- Iridaceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Columnar upright
- Genus
A genus of 60 bulbous perennials from seasonally dry grasslands or rocky sites in Central America and Peru. Attractive, bright-coloured flowers are fairly short-lived but often open successively from each stem. Each flower has three large outer segments and three shorter, inner ones. The leaves are narrow, sword-shaped
- Name status
Correct
- Plant range
- Mexico
How to grow
Cultivation
Plant 10cm deep. Outdoors grow in well-drained, preferably sandy, fertile soil in full sun. In cold areas lift after flowering and overwinter in dry sand at about 10C. Under glass grow in peat-free, loam-based potting compost with added sharp sand. Keep dry when dormant and repot each spring
Propagation
Propagate by seed sown at around 15C in spring, or by separating offsets when dormant
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Patio and container plants
- Mediterranean climate plants
Pruning
No pruning required
Pests
Generally pest-free
Diseases
Prone to viruses
Get involved
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