When we go out to hike in late June and July, we are always delighted to come across tiger lilies in bloom.

• Lilium columbianum is a tall perennial that grows from a scaly bulb.
• A single stem rises to about 1 m and may branch out for one to many flowers.
• Several sets of alternate lance-like smooth leaves will grow out from the stem.
• The large and distinct orange flowers are easy to identify with their petals curling back and nodding heads.
• Red or purple spots dot the petals.
• The tiger lily has six stamens (composed of anthers and filaments), one pistil (composed of the stigma, style and ovary), a long style, and a three-lobed stigma.
• The flowers have a sweet and pleasant smell.
• Tiger lilies grown in a variety of habitats, but in our area are mostly spotted in open, moist forests, in glades, in ditches, and alongside trails in the high country forests. We have spotted them in subalpine areas too, in protected spots near the forests edge.
• All photos taken by the author. Click an image for information on the location and date of the sighting and for a larger (lightbox) view.

• The flowers are mainly pollinated by butterflies and hummingbirds
• Many seeds form in capsules after flowering.
• Aboriginal people in many parts of the world have eaten lily bulbs and shoots. The bulbs have a slight peppery flavor. When the bulbs are baked they area reputed to taste like potatoes.
• It has also been also used as a herbal treatment for various purposes – as a calming remedy, an anti-inflammatory, and in holistic healing.
• There are a number of myths associated with tiger lilies – it causes freckles, it stands for wealth a and prosperity, and so on.
• Lilium columbianun is also called Columbian lily or Oregon lily. The words “tiger” is probably associated with color and spots of a tiger.
• Lilies bulbs are easy to grow. Plant bulbs in the fall or take bulbils from the axils of the leaves and grow them in moist peat in the dark.

We hope to collect some bulbils this summer as we hike into areas rich in tiger lilies, then to propagate them for planting in the fall. Since lilies are poisonous to cats, we will pick spots away from cat-paths.