Here’s a native bulb with an fascinating history you might not know about. Camassia, also called camas, Great Camas, camash, quamash, Indian hyacinth or wild hyacinth, is comprised of five species native to the Midwest, Pacific Northwest and British Columbia. There is also an eastern species C. scilloides, or Atlantic camassia. They are all members of the asparagus family.
According to several reliable sources, before the arrival of Europeans great stands of wild C. quamash were common throughout its range. Lewis and Clark wrote in their journals of seeing vast fields of camas “like blue lakes”. These stands were nurtured and even cultivated by native tribes because camas was an important foodstuff for them. The toxic bulbs were carefully pit-roasted over several days to render them edible and sweet, with a flavor said to resemble baked pears. The cooked pulp was also dried and pounded into flour for year-round consumption.
Fun Fact: During an especially difficult winter, the starving Lewis and Clark expedition met up with a band of Nez Perce who shared their salmon and camas, averting starvation. For more on how camash was traditionally prepared click here. (Please don’t try this at home! Leave any culinary adventures involving toxins to the experts.)
Unfortunately cattle grazing and colonization wiped out many camassia stands, contributing to food insecurity among the tribes who depended on them. Now wild camassia is found only in a few undisturbed areas of the Pacific Northwest, British Columbia, Texas, and in rich bottomlands of the eastern U.S.
Camassia is showy and delicate at the same time, with most varieties having blue or violet flowers. Two are white or cream; one is even pink. Improved breeding has further confused the nomenclature, so purchase whichever one strikes your fancy and don’t worry about the parentage! They are all lovely and quite similar. Flower color and bloom period are the main differences.All flower in spring.
Varieties
C. leichtinii Blue Melody has variegated foliage and deep violet flowers, making it an unusual and showy choice. I don’t grow this one but I intend to try it.
I find the blue and violet varieties have the best garden presence. Most reach approximately 18 to 24 inches tall in flower.
Great camas (C. leichtlinii) which is a soft blue, adorns my back wooded area. This species features more open florettes at once, giving it a fuller look than some. C. leichtlinii Blue Danube (not shown) is another pretty blue which closely resembles both Great Camas and Cusick’s.
I also grow a white (really cream) called Camassia leichtlinii “Alba” which starts out sturdy and fat, turning wispy and delicate as the flowers complete their show. It comes into bud just as C. leichtlinii finishes. Despite its ephemeral appearance I still enjoy it.
Growing Camassia
A naturally slim perennial, all camassias look best in clumps or massed. The foliage is spiky like a small kniphofia, with flower stalks resembling asparagus at first. They soon rise above the foliage and open from the bottom up. Spent petals fall cleanly away, so there’s no deadheading.
Fortunately the newer nativars retain the “wildflower” habit of the species and never look forced. Any of the camassia varieties available are ideal for low spots, meadows, pollinator and rain gardens, flood plains and rich bottomlands, but ordinary flowerbeds are fine. Its only drawback is a relatively short bloom period, with each inflorescence lasting about ten days. Adverse weather may further shorten the display.
Even if you don’t have a damp area, camassia will do perfectly well in a meadow, under deciduous trees or in dappled borders. Humusy loam is ideal but they tolerate clay well too. Mine do great in mostly clay with an occasional feeding of Bulb-tone. Just avoid very dry areas in full sun.
Plant bulbs in early fall, spacing them a hand’s width apart in clusters. A little bonemeal or bulb food in early spring is a good idea, at least at first. The foliage stays nice for a little while but dies back by midsummer, so remember where they are planted. Groundcover or bushy companions like ferns and astilbes will hide the dying leaves.
These easy bulbs look terrific with other bulbs like grape hyacinth and allium, lady’s mantle, astilbe, ferns, blue-eyed grass, hostas, sedges, creeping phlox, cranesbill, mint and the like. They can take mostly sun, but prefer a little shade in hot summers like ours. They are much tougher than they look.
So even if you think you’ve got enough spring bulbs, I bet you can find room for camassia. This easy-care bulb will reward you year after year with its lovely countenance, slowly increasing in number to enchant you every spring. Order some now to plant this autumn! You can find them at mail order nurseries specializing in bulbs.
