Growli
Let's go

Plant care

Tiger Flower (Mexican shell flower) care

Tigridia pavonia

Also called Tiger flower, Mexican shell flower, Peacock flower, Oceloxochitl.

RHS H2USDA 7-10Mildly toxic to petsIndoor 60–90 cm tall in flower

Watering rhythm

Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)

Regular watering during the growing season; reduce after flowering; dry storage in winter

Jump to schedule→Get smart reminders in the app

Light

Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)

Soil

Fertile, well-drained loamy or sandy soil, pH 5.5–7.5

Humidity

Moderate (40–65%)

Temp

10–30°C

Pet safety

Mildly toxic to pets

Mature size

60–90 cm tall in flower

Care at a glance

Light

Tiger Flower needs sun on the leaves, not just bright ambient room light. Full sun for a minimum of six hours per day is needed to support the vigorous summer growth and successive flowering; in partial shade plants become leggy and flower poorly. A south or west-facing windowsill in the northern hemisphere is the default; anywhere else, expect the plant to stretch and pale out within a season.

Watering

Water tiger flower regular watering during the growing season; reduce after flowering; dry storage in winter. The actual day count varies with pot size, light, and season — the finger test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) is more reliable than a fixed calendar. Empty any drainage saucer afterwards so the pot isn't sitting in water. Keep soil consistently moist but never waterlogged from planting through flowering; begin reducing water as foliage dies back in autumn. Lifted bulbs must be stored completely dry at 7–10°C over winter.

Soil and pot

Tiger Flower grows best in fertile, well-drained loamy or sandy soil, ph 5.5–7.5. Plant bulbs 8–10 cm deep in spring after the last frost in well-prepared, organically enriched, free-draining soil; avoid heavy clay, which stays too wet and cold for reliable establishment. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Tiger Flower sits happiest at around Moderate (40–65%) humidity and 10–30°C (50–86°F). Tolerates average garden humidity well; good air circulation reduces the risk of fungal issues on the foliage and during bulb storage. If you keep the room above 10–30°C year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed tiger flower sparingly. Apply a balanced granular fertiliser at planting, then feed with a liquid high-potassium feed every two weeks once flower buds form to prolong the flowering season. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on tiger flower in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

  • Botrytis on stored bulbs — Tigridia corms stored over winter in damp conditions are prone to botrytis (grey mould). After lifting, cure corms in a warm, airy spot for one to two weeks, dust lightly with sulphur powder, and store in dry compost or paper bags at 7–10°C.
  • Iris borer (Macronoctua onusta) — In North America, iris borer larvae can tunnel into Tigridia corms, causing wilting and rotting. Inspect corms at lifting, discard any with tunnels or soft spots, and consider a preventive imidacloprid soil drench where infestations are a known problem.

Propagation

Lift corms in autumn after the first light frost, remove and store offsets separately, and replant in spring. Seed can be sown indoors at 18–21°C in late winter; seedlings flower in their second or third year. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Tiger Flower is mildly toxic to pets. Tigridia pavonia is not listed by the ASPCA as toxic to cats or dogs, and multiple horticultural sources including the BBC Gardeners' World and Gardenia.net state it has no toxic effects reported. The bulbs were historically consumed by the Aztecs. However, as a member of Iridaceae — a family that does include toxic genera — and in the absence of a formal ASPCA non-toxic listing, a cautious mildly-toxic classification is applied here. Discourage pets from chewing the plant; consult a vet if substantial ingestion occurs. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Tiger Flower care — frequently asked questions

What is the common name for Tigridia pavonia?

Tigridia pavonia is most commonly called Tiger Flower, but it is also known as Tiger flower, Mexican shell flower, Peacock flower, Oceloxochitl. The names refer to the same species, so care instructions for Tiger Flower apply identically to anything sold as Mexican shell flower.

How much light does tiger flower need?

Tiger Flower grows best in direct sun (at least 4-6 hours). Full sun for a minimum of six hours per day is needed to support the vigorous summer growth and successive flowering; in partial shade plants become leggy and flower poorly.

How often should I water tiger flower?

Water tiger flower regular watering during the growing season; reduce after flowering; dry storage in winter. Keep soil consistently moist but never waterlogged from planting through flowering; begin reducing water as foliage dies back in autumn. Lifted bulbs must be stored completely dry at 7–10°C over winter. The finger-test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) beats a fixed weekly calendar because pot size, light, and season all change how fast the soil dries.

Is tiger flower toxic to cats and dogs?

Tiger Flower is mildly toxic to pets. Tigridia pavonia is not listed by the ASPCA as toxic to cats or dogs, and multiple horticultural sources including the BBC Gardeners' World and Gardenia.net state it has no toxic effects reported. The bulbs were historically consumed by the Aztecs. However, as a member of Iridaceae — a family that does include toxic genera — and in the absence of a formal ASPCA non-toxic listing, a cautious mildly-toxic classification is applied here. Discourage pets from chewing the plant; consult a vet if substantial ingestion occurs.

What USDA hardiness zone does tiger flower grow in?

Tiger Flower is rated for USDA zone 7-10 and RHS hardiness H2. Outside that range, grow it as a container plant that overwinters indoors before the first hard frost.

Tiger Flower deep-dive guides

Every aspect of tiger flower care, each with its own calibrated guide:

Featured in these plant shortlists

Tiger Flower qualifies for 4 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

Related guides

Tiger Flower is also known as Tiger flower, Mexican shell flower, Peacock flower, and Oceloxochitl.