Lilium columbianum
COLUMBIA LILY, COLUMBIAN LILY, OREGON LILY
syn. L. canadense var. parviflorum
Family: Liliaceae
Pronounced: LIL-ee-um kol-um-bee-AH-num

Quick Jumps
Growing Guide
Rainy Side Notes
GROWING GUIDE

Origin:
British Columbia, California, Idaho, Oregon, Washington.
Plant Group:
Bulb.
Hardiness:
Sunset zones: 2-7, 14-19.
USDA zones: 5-9.
Mature size:
Height: 5-6 feet (1.5-1.8 m).
Flowering period:
July and August.
Flowering attributes:
Golden orange, recurved petals with spots in center.
Light:
Full sun to partial shade.
Soil:
Moist but well-drained neutral to acidic soil.
Propagation Methods:
Sow seed as soon as ripe.
Plant scales, offset or bulbils from stem when plant is dormant.
Rainy Side Notes
Our native lily is found in a variety of habitats—as far north as southern British Columbia and south to northern California. From alpine heights to sea level, Columbia lily grows in forests, thickets and meadows. It's a fine addition for most well-drained soil in the maritime Northwest. In addition, this plant is an excellent choice for a garden that receives little or no irrigation, as it is perfectly adapted to our summer drought.
Indigenous people used the bulb as a starchy food source. Roasted, boiled, mixed with salmon roe or dried into cakes, the lily scales added slightly sweet starch with a hint of pepper taste to the palate.
Good drainage and leaf mold, as a top dressing, gives the best growing conditions. During our drought period, use minimum irrigation over the dormant bulbs to prevent them from rotting. Small bulbs are best for planting; older, larger bulbs do not transplant well. Digging them up in the wild, is not a good idea and most likely the plants will not survive the transition. Let foliage ripen before removing stems.
Photographed in Suzette Birrell's garden.
A Pacific Northwest Plant of the Week (2012)

Gardening for the Homebrewer: Grow and Process Plants for Making Beer, Wine, Gruit, Cider, Perry, and More
By co-authors Debbie Teashon (Rainy Side Gardeners) and Wendy Tweton
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