Products › Autumn planted bulbs to flower in the Spring › Camassia › Camassia esculenta

Several Camassia species are found in western N. America, where they grow in rich damp meadowland, often in huge drifts.  Camassia esculenta (quamash) is one of the shorter species, growing from British Colombia to California, and was an important food source for several groups of Native Americans, including the Nez Perce who gave it the name Quamash.  A dozen or more starry blue flowers up to 2" across with prominent yellow stamens, attractive also to bees, are carried on stems 12" (30cm) and more in June with seeds ripening in July to August.  The leaves grow from the base and are narrow, about 1 ft in length. Once established they will form good-sized clumps, and are a striking planting along side a pond where they enjoy the extra moisture. If planted in grass remember not to mow till the foliage has died away in late June.

Planting instructions

Plant them about 3" (7.5cm) deep, 3-4" (7.5-10cm) apart in a humus-rich, moisture retentive soil, in a sunny position, which will not dry out over the summer