Camassia

( kah - MASS - ee - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

Commonly called Camass, Quamash, Indian Hyacinth or Wild Hyacinth, this genus is filled with flowering perennials that grow from bulbs and need full sun or light shade and regular waterings during growth and bloom periods. They are at home in meadow or naturalized landscapes, but can do a great job in adding a sea of blue to any style of garden. Flowers appear in springtime on slender spikes that open from the bottom up and are typically blue-violet to deep purple, but can also be light lilac or white. These plants are native to Northern California and the Pacific Northwest. These flowers are great when planted amongst native grasses and perennials that will fill the void during the Camass' dormant period. Use these flowers in mixed beds and borders, to naturalize open areas of the landscape, or as pollinator plants.

Camassia Species and Varietals

The genus Camassia is a member of the plant family Asparagaceae and includes six species. Camass does best in USDA hardiness zones 4-8 or Sunset growing zones 1-9 and 14-17, though this varies a bit depending on the species cultivated. See the descriptions below for more information. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Camassia angusta (Pairie Camas, Pairie Hyacinth, Wild Hyacinth)
Native to the central United States (Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, and Indiana), this bulbous perennial species reaches 30 inches tall and blooms in April and May, producing shows of white, purple, blue, or violet flowers. Best in USDA zones 4-8.

Camassia cusickii (Cusick's Camass, Cusick's Quamash)
These plants are native to the northwestern United States and surrounding areas in Canada. Leaves on these plants green and linear with parallel venation, and plants produce dense clusters of pale blue to ice blue flowers which bloom on 3-foot tall stems. Cusick's Camass grows well in USDA zones 3-8.

Camassia howellii (Howell's Camas, Howell Camas)
This species of perennial flowering bulb is native to western Oregon, and is considered endangered due to residential development, mining, and grazing. Each plant produces about 4-7 leaves and a flower stalk that holds up to 100 flowers each. Blooms are a deep blue-violet color and are seen flowering in May. This species grows well in USDA hardiness zones 4-8.

Camassia leichtlinii (Large Camas, Great Camas)
Blooms in this species are violet to blue, and spikes reach 4 feet tall. Varieties include Camassia leichtlinii suksdorfii (with blue-violet flowers), Camassia leichtlinii leichtlinii (also called 'Alba', with blooms of blue-tinged white), and 'Semiplena' (with creamy white semi-double blooms). Large Camas grows well in USDA hardiness zones 4-9.

Camassia quamash (Camas, Small Camas, Common Camas. Common Quamash, Blue Camas, Wild Hyacinth)
This species of Camass grows best in USDA hardiness zones 4-8 or Sunset growing zones 1-10 and 14-17. It produces 1-2 foot tall flower spikes with loose clusters of blue flowers. Varietal 'Blue Melody' (pictured) has deeper blue blooms with variegated foliage.

Camassia scilloides (Atlantic Camas, Wild Hyacinth, Eastern Camas, Quamash Lily, Eastern Camas Lily)
This species is native to the eastern half of North America, and produces foliage and flower stems from an underground bulb. Flowers are light blue to whitish, and bloom in April through May in their native range. Individual plants reach up to 1-3 feet tall when in bloom and grow well in USDA hardiness zones 4-8.

Caring for Camassia

Camass bulbs should be planted in fall, after temperatures have cooled about 3-4 inches deep and spaced 6 inches apart. Choose a space in the garden that receives full sun to light shade (doing well in spaces along treelines); they will bloom best when they get between 6 and 8 hours of sun each day. In the warmest climates in their zone range, provide Camass with afternoon shelter from direct sun. Bulbs can be planted near streams or ponds, but should not be located in low-lying areas where moisture accumulates, as the bulbs will rot out in standing water. They are happy in heavy clay soils or loamy ones, and are not particularly picky about soil pH, but will perform best in the 6.0 to 7.0 range. Soil should be somewhat moisture retentive, and the planting area should be relatively undisturbed by foot traffic or gardening activities. Before planting, amend soil with plenty of organic material and/or compost to improve drainage and tilth. Mulch around the base of plants to increase soil moisture retention, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to suppress weed growth.

Water new plantings regularly as they establish strong root systems. At maturity, these bulbs need additional waterings during periods of drought, and not much else. The bulbs do not need additional water during their summer dormancy. These bulbs are not suitable for growing in pots. Fertilize these bulbs yearly in early springtime with an application of about 2 inches of compost around the planting area. Gently work it a bit into the soil, after pulling up mulch, and then replace the mulch afterwards. These plants are not heavy feeders, and compost is sufficient to provide all nutrients required for the growing season. Cut back foliage towards the end of the growing season when it has completely yellowed, turned brown, and died back. The dying leaves will feed the next year's bulbs. Flower spikes can be deadheaded to improve appearance (unless you will be saving seed for sowing). Individual bulbs are capable of living for 15-20 years before needing to be replaced. These plants clump over time, however, providing flowers indefinitely.

Propagation

Camassia can be propagated either by division or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the division method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. Additionally, Camassia bulbs grown from seed take a while to produce flowers - up to 4 to 5 years of growth is required before blooming starts. To propagate your Camas, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Camassia by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds. The seed pods on plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will continue to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
In either late winter or early springtime, get your container prepared. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes about a week from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home. Camassia plants grown from seed will take some time to put on bulb growth before they are ready to flower. This process can take as much as 4-5 years' time, so if you are growing Camassia from seed, patience is key.

Propagating Camassia by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil, compost and pots (only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in July or August (after the plant has entered dormancy), and needs to be done every few years regardless of whether you have the goal of propagating the plants for best performance, especially if you are growing them in a small space or container. To propagate by division, follow these steps:

Using a shovel, dig up your existing plant. Start from the outside and work your way in to avoid damaging the bulb(s). Once you have worked it up out of the ground, lay it out.
Start to tease apart the roots with your gloved fingers. Once the roots are untangled, separate your plant into segments, ensuring that each one has at least one thick bulb section attached.
Prepare your pot(s) or new planting site(s) with amended, well-draining soil. You can either bring in new soil or simply amend your existing soil with compost to complete this task. Then, plant your divided bulbs about an inch under the soil surface and water thoroughly.
Apply a thick layer of mulch over the new planting to protect it from cold weather as it acclimates to its new home. Then, enjoy watching it sprout in the next growing season.