Tigridia corms

Tigridia, commonly known as tiger flower or peacock tiger flower, is grown for flowers that are unlike almost anything else in the summer border. Each bloom opens in clear shades of red, orange, pink, yellow or white, with a contrasting spotted centre that gives the flower its distinctive pattern. Individual flowers are short-lived, often lasting only a day, but established plants produce them in succession, so Tigridia corms can keep sending up fresh blooms over several weeks.

Plant peacock tiger flower corms in spring once the soil has warmed, choosing a sunny, sheltered position in fertile, well-drained ground. Their upright stems and narrow foliage fit easily between other summer plants, while the flowers are best placed where their markings can be seen at close range. Regular moisture during active growth helps the Tigridia plants build steadily, but good drainage remains important, particularly in cooler conditions.

In most UK gardens, Tigridia bulbs are best treated as tender and lifted before winter, or grown in containers that can be moved somewhere frost free. That seasonal rhythm suits them well. The corms rest through winter, begin again in spring and then build towards a run of richly patterned flowers in summer. Group several tiger flowers together in a warm border or pot so that as one flower passes, another is ready to open.