In springtime, North America sees an ever-increasing return of hummingbirds who had migrated south for the winter. Most gardeners are accustomed to having beautiful blooms and an abundance of pollinating visitors when their gardens are located in bright sunny spots in their yards. However, for those areas that are shady, it can be tough to find pollinator-attracting plants that have the same amount of irresistible allure for butterflies, bees, and of course, hummingbirds. If you’re that gardener, pull on your gardening gloves! The Columbia lily (Lilium columbianum) is a striking flower to add to your shade garden, and growing it is likely to reward you with many rapid-winged avians.

The red-speckled, golden to orange-hued perennial is a spotlight-hogging showstopper that can be especially riveting when it takes up residence in a shady locale in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 9. It’s considered to be a vibrant orange flower that hummingbirds can’t resist, as the Columbia lily’s saturated hues definitely hold their own against more common shade-tolerating floral varieties like foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) and columbine (Aquilegia canadensis). The Columbia lily will happily bloom under just about any light conditions, but the native of the western United States truly thrives in the dappled shade at the edges of forests. If that sounds like your shade garden and you’ve been hoping to see more hummingbirds, these lilies are full of nectar, which they can’t resist.

A wide selection of lilies will attract hummingbirds to your yard, who are sure to visit the brightly-hued Columbia lily. The Columbia lily is a North American native, hailing from the western part of the continent and as far inland as Montana and Idaho. Hummingbirds will definitely be attracted to the bright orange color and stick around for the sweet nectar.

You could try growing a plant similar to the Columbia lily if you’re not in one of the western states. Turk’s cap lily (Lilium superbum) is very similar but native to the eastern United States and grows taller. Like its western cousin, it has an affinity for growing in shady areas. 

The Columbia lily will pair nicely with some other shade-appreciating flowers that hummingbirds absolutely love, too. In fact, they may already be gracing your garden. Columbine (Aquilegia) and Asian bleeding heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis), for example, are popular throughout nearly all the continental United States and both prefer well-drained soil just like the Columbia lily. Fuchsia (Fuchsia sp.), is a perennial in warmer areas but can be grown as an annual in most other climates. Depending your climate, soil, and other preferences, any or all of these flowers could be wonderful additions to the Columbia lilies in your shady areas, whether planted in the ground or in pretty pots.