Lilium columbianum
Hans.
Columbia Tiger Lily, Columbia lily, Oregon Lily, Tiger Lily
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(c) Marshall Archibald, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Marshall Archibald
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(c) Scott Cox, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND)
Description
Lilium columbianum is a BULB growing to 1.5 m (5ft) by 0.3 m (1ft in) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5. It is in flower from July to August, and the seeds ripen from August to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.
Edible Uses
Bulb - raw or cooked[61, 105, 161, 213, 257]. The oval-shaped bulb is up to 5cm in diameter and is used as a vegetable in the same way as potatoes (Solanum tuberosum). Starchy, with a slightly sweet taste. The flavour of the cooked bulbs is said to resemble sweet chestnuts but with a slight bitterness. The bulbs were highly prized by various native North American Indian tribes and were used as a staple food.
Distribution
Western N. America - British Columbia to California.
Where It Grows
NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (British Columbia (south)), United States (Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, California (northwest))
Cultivation
Requires a moist not too heavy well-drained acid loam in light shade. Succeeds in full sun. Plant bulbs 10 - 15cm deep. Early to mid autumn is the best time to plant out the bulbs in cool temperate areas, in warmer areas they can be planted out as late as late autumn. The plant should be protected against rabbits and slugs in early spring. If the shoot tip is eaten out the bulb will not grow in that year and will lose vigour.
Propagation
Seed - autumnal hypogeal germination. Best sown as soon as ripe in a cold frame, it should germinate in spring. Stored seed will require a warm/cold/warm cycle of stratification, each period being about 2 months long. Grow on in cool shady conditions. Great care should be taken in pricking out the young seedlings, many people leave them in the seed pot until they die down at the end of their second years growth. This necessitates sowing the seed thinly and using a reasonably fertile sowing medium. The plants will also require regular feeding when in growth. Divide the young bulbs when they are dormant, putting 2 - 3 in each pot, and grow them on for at least another year before planting them out into their permanent positions when the plants are dormant. Division in autumn once the leaves have died down. Replant immediately. Bulb scales can be removed from the bulbs in early autumn. If they are kept in a warm dark place in a bag of moist peat, they will produce bulblets. These bulblets can be potted up and grown on in the greenhouse until they are large enough to plant out. Stem or leaf cuttings.
