What hardiness zones is Camassia quamash suitable for?

Camassia quamash is common camas (small camas), a bulbous perennial growing 18-30 inches (45-75 cm) tall and 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) wide. Blue to blue-violet star-shaped flowers with 6 spreading tepals 1-1.5 inches (2.5-4 cm) in dense upright racemes 8-12 inches (20-30 cm) in April-May (4 weeks). Mid-green linear grass-like leaves 8-20 inches (20-50 cm). Foliage dies back by midsummer. In Asparagaceae. Native to western North America — British Columbia to California in moist meadows and vernal pools that flood in spring and dry by summer. The bulbs were a critical food source for Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest (quamash = Nez Perce name). Grows in the same wet meadows as death camas (Anticlea elegans — cream-white flowers), whose bulbs are toxic and indistinguishable from camas bulbs when not in bloom. Tolerates wet winter soil and seasonal flooding. Drought-tolerant once dormant in summer. Plant bulbs 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) deep in fall in moist sites. Naturalizes in lawns and wet meadows. Deer browse. Non-toxic. Zones 3-8. Full sun to partial shade. Growth rate is moderate.

Native Range

Native to western North America — from British Columbia to California, east to Montana and Wyoming. Found in moist meadows, prairies, and vernal pools that flood in spring and dry out by summer.

Suggested Uses

Grown in moist meadow gardens, rain gardens, wet borders, naturalized lawns, and in containers of at least 3 gallons (11 L), spaced 6-12 inches (15-30 cm). Tolerates seasonal flooding. Naturalizes. Native to western North America. Non-toxic. Zones 3-8.

How to Identify

Identified by blue to blue-violet star-shaped flowers in dense upright racemes on a bulbous perennial with linear grass-like leaves in moist spring meadows. Distinguished from death camas (Anticlea elegans) by flower color — camas is blue-violet, death camas is cream-white. Bulbs indistinguishable without flowers. In Asparagaceae.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1'6" - 2'6"

Width/Spread6" - 1'

Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~4 weeks

Spring

Mid to late spring (April-May). Blue to blue-violet star-shaped flowers 1-1.5 inches (2.5-4 cm) with 6 tepals in dense upright racemes 8-12 inches (20-30 cm). 4 weeks. Bee- and butterfly-visited. Foliage dies back by midsummer.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Blue to blue-violet, star-shaped with 6 spreading tepals, 1-1.5 inches (2.5-4 cm), in dense upright racemes 8-12 inches (20-30 cm) above the foliage

Foliage Description

Mid-green, linear, grass-like, 8-20 inches (20-50 cm) long; foliage dies back by midsummer

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Full Sun Partial Shade

Requires 4-10 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam clay

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-3 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Full sun to partial shade (4-10 hours). Moist soil pH 5.5-7.0 — tolerates seasonal flooding. Drought-tolerant once dormant in summer. Plant bulbs 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) deep in fall. Allow foliage to die back naturally. Naturalizes. Do not confuse with toxic death camas (Anticlea elegans) — harvest only when in bloom. Deer browse. Non-toxic. Zones 3-8.

Pruning

No pruning needed. Allow foliage and seed stalks to die back naturally by midsummer. Do not cut green foliage.

Maintenance Level

very low

Container Growing

✓ Suitable for container growing

Minimum container size: 3 gallons

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Non-toxic