Tiger Flowers are a study in theatrical excess. The flared blossoms reach 3 to 6 inches across and come in vivid combinations of white, pink, red, orange, and yellow, each centered with a contrasting spotted cup. They belong to the iris family and carry the gladiola-like foliage to match, making them easy to integrate with other summer bulbs. Individual flowers open for just one day, but because each stem produces a succession of blooms and a single planting includes many stems, the display stretches across several weeks of summer.

Plant the bulbs 2 to 3 inches deep and 4 to 5 inches apart in full sun and well-drained sandy to loam soil; groups of five or six create the kind of dense, eye-catching display that makes the ephemeral blooms worthwhile. In zones 8 and colder, lift the bulbs after the first frost and store them dry over winter, or grow them in containers that can come indoors. In zones 9 and above, leave them in the ground and divide every few years as the clumps multiply. The roots are reportedly edible when cooked, with a flavor not unlike sweet potato.