# Columbia lily (*Lilium columbianum*) The Columbia lily is a beautiful flower with bright orange petals and dark spots. It grows tall and can be found in meadows and forests, adding color to nature's canvas. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 7 - **Habitat:** Meadows and forests ![Columbia lily](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Lilium_columbianum_9527.JPG&width=800) Photo: Walter Siegmund (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lilium_columbianum_9527.JPG) ## Appearance The Columbia lily has striking orange petals that curve gracefully backward, revealing a sprinkle of dark purple-brown spots. Its tall, slender stem proudly displays several showy, star-shaped flowers, making it stand out in green woodlands. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Liliopsida - **Order:** Liliales - **Family:** Liliaceae - **Genus:** Lilium ## Interesting facts - Each flower can have six pollen-filled stamens, sticking out like bright orange antennae! - Its yummy bulb was a key food for Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest! - The Columbia lily's petals reflex so much, they nearly touch the stem, like a fancy curtsy! - This lily can live for many decades, returning with blooms each summer. ## Special abilities - **Underground Storehouse:** Columbia lily has a sturdy bulb underground that stores energy, helping it survive cold winters and bloom year after year. - **Pollinator Spotlight:** Columbia lily can curve its petals back to expose its stamens and nectar, making it easier for insects to find and pollinate. - **Spotty Invitation:** Columbia lily has dark spots on its bright petals that act like landing strip guides, directing busy bees to its nectar. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 60-150 cm - **Spread:** 15-30 cm - **Flower Size:** 5-8 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late_spring_to_mid_summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Gathers nectar and pollen from the flowers. - **Pollinates:** Two-form Bumblebee (*Bombus bifarius*) — Visits flowers to collect nectar and pollen. - **Eaten by:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — Browses on the leaves and flowers of the plant. - **Eats:** [Deer Mouse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/deer-mouse) (*Peromyscus maniculatus*) — May consume the bulbs when available. ## Traits - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Do not touch or eat flowers without asking an adult first. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Columbia lily? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Columbia lily? 60-150 cm ### How wide does Columbia lily spread? 15-30 cm ### How big are the flowers on Columbia lily? 5-8 cm ### When does Columbia lily bloom? Late_spring_to_mid_summer ### Is Columbia lily edible? Yes ### Is Columbia lily toxic? None ### What is Columbia lily's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [E. E. Wilson Wildlife Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/e-e-wilson-wildlife-area) — Oregon, US · Nature Reserve - [Lower Cushman Dam](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lower-cushman-dam) — Washington, US · Historic Site - [Pasayten Wilderness](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pasayten-wilderness) — Washington, US · Nature Reserve - [Tantalus Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tantalus-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Valhalla Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/valhalla-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Capitol State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/capitol-state-forest) — Washington, US · Forest [View all places to see Columbia lily](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/columbia-lily) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Columbia lily: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/columbia-lily)