Lilium columbianum
An upright tall western North American native bulbous perennial lily growing from a white ovoid bulb, with unbranched stems, whorled leaves, and pendant orange Turk’s-cap-shaped flowers with dark red or purple spots that are pollinated by hummingbirds and butterflies and bloom in late spring to early summer.
Common Names
Columbia Lily, Columbian Lily, Tiger Lily, Oregon Lily
Summary
Columbia Lily is a western North American native bulbous perennial with an erect unbranched stem arising from a large white ovoid bulb, typically reaching 60–120 cm tall. Leaves are whorled around the stem, and pendant Turk’s-cap flowers are bright orange with dark maroon spots; each bloom is about 2 inches long with reflexed tepals and long stamens. It grows in prairies, meadows, forest edges, and open woods from sea level to about 1800 meters, in well-drained soils with sun or light shade, and flowers from May to July. The plant attracts bees and hummingbirds, contributing a striking summer display across western North America from British Columbia to California and east to Idaho and Montana.
In cultivation, it is propagated by seed or division; bulbs should be planted 10–15 cm deep in autumn in cool temperate areas. It prefers moist, well-drained soils that are acidic to neutral loams and is hardy in USDA zones 5–9. Bulbs are edible and were used as a staple food by Indigenous peoples; plant in borders or naturalistic plantings to attract pollinators such as bees and hummingbirds, and protect young shoots from rabbits and slugs.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
2-4 feet
Spread
12 inches
Hardiness Zones
Zones 5-9
Sunlight Requirements
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade.
Soil Type
Moist, well-drained loam soil, slightly acidic to neutral
Soil Drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
6.0-7.0, acidic to neutral
Bloom Color
Orange
Bloom Time
Spring to Summer
Foliage Color
Bright green
Fall Foliage Color
Yellow
Leaf Lifecycle
Deciduous
Growth Rate
Medium growth rate
Seasons of Interest
Summer
Propagation Methods
Seeds, Division, Bulblets from bulb scales, Stem or leaf cuttings
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, other pollinators, and birds
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- Leichtlin
- Publication
- J. Soc. Centr. Hort. France , sér. 2, 5: 98 (1871)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Liliales
- Family
- Liliaceae
- Genus
- Lilium
Synonyms
Lilium sayii Lilium nitidum Lilium lucidum Lilium purdyi Lilium canadense var. walkeri Lilium bakeri Lilium canadense var. parviflorum Lilium canadense var. californicum Lilium parviflorum Lilium californicum Lilium canadense var. minus