Species large camas
Purple-blue flowers with six petals and yellow anthers, and blue filaments on green stem.

large camas

Camassia leichtlinii

Large Camas (Camassia leichtlinii) is an amazing plant species that adds beautiful texture and bursts of color to gardens and meadows. It is a perennial flower with a long blooming time, growing in clusters of bell-shaped blossoms in shades of blue and violet. It is an excellent source of food for pollinators and nectar for other wildlife, and its bulbs have provided nutrition for the native people of North American for centuries. With its distinctive appearance, iconic flowers, and delicious bulbs, large camas is an indispensable part of our natural ecosystems that should be cherished.

Cycle:

Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Division,Seed Propagation,Cormlet Propagation,Offsets

Hardiness Zone:

5 - 9

Flowers:

White, cream, blue or purple with yellow anthers Flowers

Sun:

Sun

Fruits:

blue,purple Fruits Ready In Spring

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Water large camas (Camassia leichtlinii) deeply and thoroughly but infrequently. Watering should take place every 7 to 14 days during the periods of active growth and flowering in spring and summer. During fall and winter, reduce watering to once every 4 to 6 weeks, making sure the soil is completely dry in between. Avoid overwatering which can lead to large plants collapsing due to insufficient structure support. Watering should occur in the morning and soaking the entire plant area to a depth of 8-10 inches.

sunlight

Large camas (Camassia leichtlinii) typically require at least 6 hours of sunlight per day. The best practice is to ensure the plant receives full, direct sunlight on a daily basis during the growing season. However, the plant can also survive in somewhat shaded areas with more indirect sunlight, as long as the total amount of sunlight per day remains above the minimum of 6 hours. The plant prefers the most sunlight during the summer months, when the days are longer and the sun is at its highest in the sky. In autumn, the amount of sunlight for large camas should be reduced, as a lack of chilling temperatures can leads to issues with flowering.

pruning

Large camas (Camassia leichtlinii) requires minimal pruning. If you choose to do so, this should be done in the late winter months, when the plant is completely dormant. This will ensure that no new growth will be lost during the pruning process. Pruning of large camas may include removing dead or damaged stems, cutting back overly long or leggy stems, and thinning out the center of the plant to promote better air circulation and more vigorous flowering in the upcoming year. When pruning, always use clean, sharp pruning shears and make sure to make clean cuts.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Large camas typically start flowering in April.

Harvest Fruit

The harvesting season for Camassia leichtlinii typically begins in June and continues through August.

Hardiness Map