Columbia Lily
Lilium columbianum
- Native to:
- Canada, United States
Walter Siegmund (talk)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Liliaceae
- Genus:
- Lilium
- Species:
- Lilium columbianum
- USDA Symbol:
- LICO
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Geophyte
- Height:
- 120 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul,aug
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow, orange
Wildlife Benefits
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
spotted beet webworm moth (Hymenia perspectalis), yellow borer moth (Papaipema cerina)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Hummingbirds: Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- hummingbirds, butterflies
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Bulbs can resprout after moderate fire; historically found in fire-maintained meadows and open woodlands of the Pacific Northwest.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 6.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- prefers forested or open woodland areas
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 30–180 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require cold stratification and may exhibit hypogeal germination, taking months to produce above-ground growth.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).; then Cold-moist stratification for 60 days.
Source: Claude AI
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Sow in autumn; keep moist over winter; do not expose to temps below -3°C