Species Small Camas
blue flowers with black-yellow anthers, blue filaments, lime ovary and blue-gray stems

Small Camas

Camassia quamash subsp. maxima

Also Known As - Common Camas
The Small Camas (Camassia quamash subsp. maxima) is a bulbous perennial native to western North America. It has grass-like leaves and stems that reach up to 20 inches in height, and star-shaped blue-purple flowers which bloom from late spring to early summer. Small Camas forms small colonies in moist meadows and pastures. It can grow in a variety of soils, including clay, but prefers full sun. It is an important source of nectar for local native pollinators, while the bulbs are edible and were an important traditional food source for indigenous tribes across the Pacific Northwest.

Watering:

Frequent

Propagation:

Seed Propagation,Division,Offsets,Bulbils

Hardiness Zone:

Sun:

full sun,part shade

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Small Camas should be watered once a week, providing 6 inches of water. The plant should be thoroughly soaked, and the water should penetrate the entire root area. Be sure to avoid waterlogging, as Small Camas prefers a well-drained soil. During dry spells, they may need to be watered more often.

sunlight

Small Camas is a species of native wildflower found in western North America. It is an early-blooming perennial with blue-purple blooms from March to May. As with other plant species, it is best to provide the small Camas with the right amount of sunlight for optimal growth. Generally speaking, small Camas plants prefer between 6 to 8 hours of direct, full sun per day. When the plants are young, it is important to reduce the amount of direct sunlight to just a few hours per day. Too much direct sunlight in the early stage of growth can cause burning of the leaves and stunted growth. Additionally, too much direct sunlight can cause the leaves on the small Camas to wilt and dry out. Small Camas plants also benefit from some protection from the elements in the form of a partial shade cover during the hottest times of the day. This will also help the plants to retain water and continue to thrive under the sun's rays.

pruning

Small Camas should generally be pruned twice a year, once in the summer and once in the winter. For best results, they should be pruned before active growth begins in late spring. Summer pruning should involve deadheading of spent flowers and foliage removal if the plants begin to look lanky. During the winter, the plant should be pruned to remove unhealthy, dead, or diseased foliage when structural improvement is needed. The pruning should not exceed 1-third of the plant's total size each season in order to retain its desirable shape.