Peacock Tiger Flower Plant Care
Tigridia pavonia (L.f.) DC.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Tigridia pavonia is a species of flowering plant in the iris family Iridaceae. Common names include jockey's cap lily, Mexican shellflower, peacock flower, jaguar flower, tiger iris, and tiger flower.
Every 7–10 days
Full sun to partial shade
50–80°F
40–70%
At a glance
How do you care for Peacock Tiger Flower?
Water Peacock Tiger Flower every 7–10 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun to partial shade. It prefers temperatures of 50–80°F (10–27°C) and 40–70% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.
What Is the Peacock Tiger Flower?
Peacock Tiger Flower (Tigridia pavonia) belongs to the Iridaceae family within the Tigridia genus. Peacock Tiger Flower is also known as Tiger Flower, Shell Ginger.
Peacock Tiger Flower displays a clumping perennial growth habit, reaching up to 1.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 0.5 ft. Peacock Tiger Flower produces large, showy flowers in various colors like red, yellow, orange.
Leaf size: approximately 12 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Peacock Tiger Flower?
Tigridia pavonia requires watering every 7–10 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–10 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Peacock Tiger Flower Need?
Peacock Tiger Flower thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Peacock Tiger Flower Prefer?
Tigridia pavonia grows best at temperatures of 50–80°F. Peacock Tiger Flower prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.
Temperature
50–80°F
Humidity
40–70%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Peacock Tiger Flower?
Well-draining, sandy soil with added organic matter like compost. Good drainage is essential for Peacock Tiger Flower to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Peacock Tiger Flower?
Feed Peacock Tiger Flower every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Peacock Tiger Flower?
Repot every 2-3 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Peacock Tiger Flower?
Peacock Tiger Flower can be propagated through seeds, offsets. Similar propagation techniques also apply to tiger flower plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Peacock Tiger Flower Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Peacock Tiger Flower, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Peacock Tiger Flower?
Peacock Tiger Flower is susceptible to aphids, thrips, spider mites. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Peacock Tiger Flower Need?
Peacock Tiger Flower grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. In cooler regions, grow Peacock Tiger Flower as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 12a
Keep exploring plants
Peacock Tiger Flower is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Tigridia genus — compare its care with other Tigridia species on PlantoScan.
Tigridia is part of the Iridaceae plant family — browse all Iridaceae genera and species.
Peacock Tiger Flower thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
Related Plant Care Guides
Closely related plants with similar care requirements:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Tigridia pavonia (L.f.) DC., family Iridaceae (first published in Liliac. [Redouté] 1: t. 6. 1802) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Peacock Tiger Flower, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 12a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
Identify Plants Like the
Peacock Tiger Flower Instantly
Scan any plant with your phone camera and get instant ID, care tips, water and fertilizer reminders, and health checks — all in one app.
Free
to download
iOS & Android
platforms
Light & dark
mode
100,000+
species