Felder Rushing
Family
Liliaceae
Botanical Name
Camassia quamash
Plant Common Name
Small Camas
General Description
Native to valleys, meadows, and prairies of eastern and western North America, camas are grown for their steepled clusters of starry flowers atop tall leafless stems in late spring. The blue or sometimes white blooms have six pointed segments, and often remain on the stem after they wither. The clumps of strap-shaped, keeled, green or gray-green leaves go dormant in summer. The leaves and flower stalks grow from large bulbs with dark tunics. Most camassias come from the northwestern United States and southwestern Canada. One, Camassia scilloides, occurs from Pennsylvania and Michigan to Georgia and Texas. Cultivars of C. quamash, C. cusickii, and C. leichtlinii are available from bulb merchants.
Plant the bulbs three times as deep as they are wide. They grow and flower best in full to partial sun in moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil. Though they prefer steady moisture in late winter and spring they will not tolerate waterlogged soil. Narrow in stature, they looks best when planted in groups. Given favorable conditions and left undisturbed, these bulbs persist and increase for years. They work well in perennial borders, meadows, and waterside plantings. Pair them with plants such as hardy geranium that will cover the withering leaves.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
8 - 1
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USDA Hardiness Zone
3 - 8
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Sunset Zone
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17
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Plant Type
Bulb or Corm or Tuber
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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Width
0"-4" / 0.0cm - 10.2cm
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Bloom Time
Spring, Late Spring
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Native To
Western United States, Northwestern United States, California, Canada
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
Blue, Purple, Dark Blue
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Fruit Color
Brown
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Green
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Fragrant Flowers
No
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
No
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Foliage Texture
Medium
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
No
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Showy Bark
No
