Tiger Lily | Native Plant Feature 05

Watercolour and ink Tiger Lily by Laura Watson

Lilium columbianum, known as the Tiger Lily, is a vibrant native wildflower of British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest. With its brilliant orange petals speckled in dark spots and gracefully curling tips, this striking lily lights up summer meadows and forest edges. A proud member of the Lily family (Liliaceae), it is one of the tallest and most dramatic native wildflowers in our region, reaching heights of up to 1.5 meters in ideal conditions.

Blooming in midsummer, the Tiger Lily is beloved by hummingbirds and butterflies, and by artists who are drawn to its fiery palette and bold structure. Its presence in the landscape is both energising and ephemeral, reminding us to pause and marvel at wild beauty when it appears. I first discovered Tiger Lilies as a child while walking to catch the school bus. Tiger lilies used to bloom along the roadside in late spring where I lived on Southern Vancouver Island.

Lilium columbianum, Tiger Lily


Lilium columbianum – Tiger Lily


Common Name: Tiger Lily

Latin Name: Lilium columbianum

Family: Liliaceae

Habitat: Open woods, meadows, roadsides, and rocky slopes

Bloom Time: June–August

Range: Southwestern BC through the Pacific Northwest and into Northern California


The Tiger Lily grows from a scaly underground bulb and sends up a tall, leafy stalk topped by one to several showy, downward-facing flowers. Each flower features six orange to red-orange petals that curl strongly backwards, exposing a central starburst of six long stamens tipped with rusty-brown anthers. The petals are dramatically spotted, giving rise to the “tiger” name.

Leaves grow in whorls along the stem, tapering to narrow points. Plants often occur singly or in small clusters and may take several years to flower from seed. Though it’s bold and showy, this lily is part of a delicate ecosystem, sensitive to overgrazing, habitat loss, and roadside mowing.

Tiger Lily by Laura Watson


Illustration Tip: Drawing the Tiger Lily

Focus on the dynamic curves and angles of the flower. Capture the recurved petals and the way the flower nods downward while the stamens reach outward like a firework burst. A close-up study of the anthers and pistil makes an excellent botanical inset. The spotted pattern is a fun challenge in watercolour—use warm orange washes first, then add the dark freckles once dry using a dry brush or layered glazes.

Video still from the Tiger Lily class inside The Watercolour Garden

Ecological & Cultural Notes

Tiger Lilies are important nectar sources for pollinators, especially hummingbirds, butterflies, and native bees.

Indigenous peoples in the Pacific Northwest harvested the bulbs of Lilium columbianum as a food source, roasting or steaming them after careful foraging.

The plant should never be picked or dug in the wild, as its bulbs are slow to regenerate and crucial for maintaining natural populations.

It is sometimes confused with non-native garden lilies, but its wild growth habit, narrower leaves, and speckled orange blooms help distinguish it.

Sources




Video still from the Tiger Lily class inside The Watercolour Garden

Want to Learn More?

Explore my Featured Native Plants Series and dive into the Tiger Lily Class inside The Watercolour Garden. You’ll receive a downloadable reference materials guide and step-by-step video to help you bring this stunning wildflower to life in watercolour. Want access to all my video classes and the entire Native Plants course series? Sign up here for a lifetime membership to all of my courses.

Interested in a FREE Guide featuring 10 of my native plants series illustrations?

 Download my FREE Native Plants Guide Here

Happy painting,
Laura 

Laura Watson
Botanical Artist & Instructor
Founder of The Watercolour Garden
www.thewatercolourgarden.com

All illustrations in this article are my original watercolour paintings.

Location: Nanaimo, BC, Canada

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