Tiger flower Tigridia pavonia

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Edible

‍🌱 Hard-care

ABOUT

The Tigridia pavonia, commonly known as the Tiger Flower or Mexican Shell Flower, is notable for its striking and flamboyant blooms. The flowers are large and boast an impressive array of colors, often with a combination of bold hues in a single blossom. Each flower typically displays three broad petals that can be of various shades, including red, yellow, orange, pink, white, and even patterns that may resemble the stripes of a tiger. In the center of these petals lie three smaller, cup-shaped inner segments that are often a contrasting color with spots and speckles, adding to the flower's dramatic appearance. The leaves of the Tiger Flower are sword-shaped, resembling blades of grass in form, and they are a vibrant green color, providing a lush backdrop for the dazzling blooms. The Tiger Flower is also known for the ephemeral nature of its flowers, with each bloom often lasting for just one day before it is replaced by another. Despite this brief show, the succession of flowers continues to provide a vibrant display throughout the blooming period. The plant's overall visual appeal is marked by its striking flowers that are a magnet for both garden enthusiasts and pollinators like bees and hummingbirds.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Iridaceae
- Synonyms
  Peacock Flower, Tiger Iris, Jockey's Cap Lily, Mexican Shellflower
- Common names
  Ferraria pavonia, Tigridia buccifera, Tigridia cochleata, Tigridia mexicana, Tigridia mollis, Tigridia multiflora, Tigridia pavonii, Tigridia speciosa, Tigridia tigrina, Tigridia violacea, Cypella herbertii.
Toxicity
- To humans
  The most common name of Tigridia pavonia is Tiger Flower. There are no well-documented cases or evidence suggesting that the Tiger Flower is toxic to humans. However, as with many plants, it is always wise to exercise caution and avoid ingestion unless it is known to be safe. Some individuals may experience adverse reactions due to allergies or sensitivities. If any part of the plant is ingested and symptoms occur, it's crucial to seek medical advice. Symptoms could potentially include, but are not limited to, gastrointestinal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Always practice caution and keep unknown plants out of the reach of children.
- To pets
  Regarding the Tiger Flower, there's limited specific information on its toxicity to pets. While there may not be significant evidence to suggest acute toxicity, it is generally advisable to prevent pets from ingesting plants that are not confirmed to be safe. If a pet ingests part of this plant, watch for signs of gastrointestinal distress or other unusual behavior, and consult a veterinarian. Symptoms, if any, might be similar to what humans would experience: gastrointestinal upset, vomiting, or diarrhea. It is always better to err on the side of caution and keep plants out of pets' reach, especially if the plant's effects are not well known.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Mixed
- Height
  1-2 feet (30-60 cm)
- Spread
  1 foot (30 cm)
- Plant type
  Bulb
- Hardiness zones
  8
- Native area
  Mexico

Benefits

General Benefits
- Decorative value: Tigridia pavonia, commonly known as Tiger Flower, has vibrant and striking flowers that make it an attractive addition to gardens and landscapes.
- Easy to cultivate: The plant is low maintenance and easy to grow, which makes it ideal for beginner gardeners.
- Rapid growth cycle: Tiger Flowers have a quick growth cycle and can bloom within a few months of planting, providing quick gratification from the planting effort.
- Pollinator attraction: The bright colors and patterns of the flowers attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies, thus promoting biodiversity in the garden.
- Bulb preservation: The bulbs of Tiger Flower can be easily stored during the winter and replanted in the spring, making them a perennial favorite for many gardeners.
Medical Properties
- This plant is not used for medical purposes
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- Shamanic rituals: Tigridia pavonia, also known as peacock flower, has been used in some indigenous shamanic rituals as a symbol of transformation owing to its bright, ephemeral blooms.
- Garden bed borders: Due to its striking flowers, the peacock flower can be planted in rows to create visually appealing borders in garden beds.
- Cut flowers: The bright and colorful blooms of the peacock flower make it a desirable choice for cut flower arrangements, despite their short lifespan.
- Photography subject: The vibrant colors and unique patterns of the peacock flower's petals make it an excellent subject for botanical photography and art.
- Educational tool: The peacock flower is sometimes used in educational settings to teach botany students about plant morphology and pollination strategies.
- Companion planting: Gardeners may use the peacock flower amongst vegetables to attract pollinators to their gardens, improving crop yields.
- Theme gardens: The peacock flower's distinctive look is often included in tropical or exotic theme gardens for its showy contribution to the desired aesthetic.
- Soil erosion control: When planted in masses, the peacock flower's root system can help with soil stabilization and erosion control in sloped gardens.
- Bioindicator species: The health of peacock flower populations in the wild can indicate the ecological condition of their natural habitat, serving as a bioindicator for environmental scientists.
- Cultural festivals: In regions where it's native, the peacock flower can be part of cultural celebrations, symbolizing beauty and the fleeting nature of life.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The plant Tigridia pavonia, commonly known as the Tiger flower, is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The plant Tigridia pavonia, commonly known as the Tiger flower, is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Resilience: With its ability to bloom annually even after the harshest conditions, the Tigridia pavonia, commonly known as the Peacock Flower, symbolizes resilience and the capacity to recover from difficulties.
- Beauty and Pride: Much like the peacock which is renowned for its beauty and showiness, the Peacock Flower represents beauty, pride, and confidence due to its striking and vibrant blossoms.
- Transience: The Peacock Flower's blooms last for just a day, making it a symbol of the ephemeral nature of beauty and life's fleeting moments.
- Renewal: As the Peacock Flower comes back each year with fresh blooms, it is often associated with the theme of renewal and the start of new beginnings.

💧

Every 7-10 days

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every year

Repotting

🌱️

Late winter-early spring

Propogation

✂️️

Not needed

Pruning

Water
The Shell Flower should be watered deeply, ensuring that the soil is thoroughly moistened, which typically requires about 1-2 gallons per plant, depending on the soil and climate conditions. It should be watered once a week during active growth in spring and summer. During the dormant season in fall and winter, reduce watering to every two to three weeks or according to the weather conditions, avoiding waterlogging. Always allow the top inch of soil to dry out before watering again to prevent root rot.
Light
Jockey’s Cap Lily thrives in full sunlight with at least six hours of direct sunlight daily, which is essential for blooming. A spot in the garden that receives morning sunlight and partial shade in the afternoon is ideal, especially in areas with intense midday heat.
Temperature
Tiger Flower performs best in temperatures between 50°F and 90°F, which are common in its native habitat. It can survive minimum temperatures down to 20°F if properly mulched, but it is not frost-tolerant. The ideal temperature range for this plant to flourish is between 70°F and 80°F during the growing season.
Pruning
Mexican Shellflower does not require meticulous pruning; however, deadheading spent flowers promotes further blooming. It is best to prune by removing dead leaves and faded flowers occasionally throughout the blooming season. Prune back foliage after the first frost in fall when the plant begins to die back for a tidy appearance.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
Jockey's Cap Lily prefers well-draining soil rich in organic matter with a pH ranging from slightly acidic to neutral (6.1 to 7.0). A good mix would be garden soil, peat, and sand or perlite in equal parts to ensure proper drainage and aeration.
Repotting
Jockey's Cap Lily bulbs should be repotted every 2 to 3 years to refresh the soil and to give the bulbs more space to grow.
Humidity & Misting
Jockey's Cap Lily thrives best in moderate humidity levels, around 40-60%; too much humidity can lead to bulb rot.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Place Jockey's Cap Lily in bright, indirect light indoors.
- Outdoor
  Plant Jockey's Cap Lily in full sun to partial shade outdoor.
- Hardiness zone
  7-10 USDA
Life cycle
Tigridia pavonia, commonly known as peacock flower or tiger flower, begins its life cycle when seeds are sown in well-draining soil, usually in spring after the danger of frost has passed. The seeds germinate and develop into small bulbs that produce narrow, strap-shaped leaves. As the plant matures, the bulb enlarges and the tiger flower develops a strong stem that will bear the distinctive, showy, and often tri-colored flowers, which bloom for a single day during the summer months. After pollination, usually by bees, the flowers produce seed capsules that contain numerous seeds, completing the reproductive cycle. Throughout the growing season, the plant stores energy in the bulb, which will go dormant in the winter, drawing from these reserves to initiate the next growing season. With proper care and favorable conditions, the peacock flower can re-emerge from dormancy year after year, regenerating from the bulb and continuing its life cycle.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Late winter-early spring
- The most popular method of propagation for Tigridia pavonia, commonly known as the tiger flower or peacock flower, is by dividing its bulbs. The optimal time for this is after the foliage has died back, usually in the fall. To propagate, carefully dig up the clumps of bulbs and gently separate them, making sure that each division has at least one bulb scale with a bud. Replant these divisions at a depth of about 3 to 4 inches (7.62 to 10.16 centimeters) in well-draining soil, spaced about 5 inches (12.7 centimeters) apart. Water the newly planted bulbs thoroughly and wait for them to sprout the following growing season. This method allows for clonal reproduction, ensuring the new plants will have the same characteristics as the parent.