Plant Guide: Camassia

The botanical name of this plant is derived from the name given to it by Native Americans, who cultivated the bulbs as a food source. It is an unusual bulbous plant because it prefers moist, heavy soil. The long, elegant flower stems carry dense spikes of star-shaped blue flowers.

Camassia leichtlinii is a reliable species, producing flower stems up to about 1 m (3 ft) tall. C. quamash (C. esculenta) is somewhat shorter and bears flowers ranging in colour from white to pale blue and deep purple. The lavender-blue flower spikes of C. cusickii appear in late spring.

GROWING CONDITIONS

Aspect
Full sun or very light shade.

Position
Camassias are excellent border plants, providing early summer colour. Moist, fertile soil is preferred, although they will also grow satisfactorily in free-draining soil.

CULTIVATION

Planting
Plant the bulbs from early to mid-autumn, 7.5–10 cm (3–4 in) deep and about 15 cm (6 in) apart.

Feeding
Additional feeding is usually unnecessary, but a light application of fertiliser in spring may be beneficial, especially on poor soil. Water generously during dry spells, particularly on sandy soils that dry out quickly.

Problems
Camassias are generally trouble-free.

FLOWERING

Season
Late spring to early summer.

Cutting
Flower stems can be cut when the lowest buds on the spike begin to open.

AFTER FLOWERING

Care
Cut back flower stems once flowering has finished. Leave the bulbs undisturbed in the ground until they become congested; lift and divide them in autumn.