What hardiness zones is Camassia quamash suitable for?

Camassia quamash is suitable for USDA hardiness zones 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.

What are the sun requirements for Camassia quamash?

Camassia quamash requires Full Sun.

How much water does Camassia quamash need?

Camassia quamash has Medium water needs.

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Perennials

Camassia quamash

common camas

Asparagaceae

Western North America: British Columbia to California, east to Montana and Wyoming

At a Glance

TypeBulb

HabitUpright

FoliageDeciduous

Height18-30 inches (45-75 cm)

Width6-12 inches (15-30 cm)

Maturity3 years

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

3 - 8

Zone 3

Zone 4

Zone 5

Zone 6

Zone 7

Zone 8

These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.

Frost Tolerancehardy

Key Features

Attracts Pollinators

Attracts Butterflies

Drought Tolerant

Container Friendly

Native to North America

Maintenancevery low

Overview

A bulbous perennial growing 18-30 inches (45-75 cm) tall in flower, native to western North America and widely distributed in the Pacific Northwest. Bulbs are tunicate, 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) in diameter, dark brown, planted 3-4 inches (8-10 cm) deep. Leaves are basal, linear, grass-like, 8-24 inches (20-60 cm) long and 0.5-1 inch (1.2-2.5 cm) wide, mid-green, emerging in early spring and dying back by midsummer. Flower scapes are single, erect, 18-30 inches (45-75 cm) tall, bearing a raceme of 10-40 star-shaped flowers opening progressively from bottom to top. Individual flowers are 1-1.5 inches (2.5-4 cm) across, composed of six spreading tepals, typically blue to blue-violet. Flowers appear April to May. Bulbs form large colonies in moist meadows; historical populations in the Willamette Valley and Puget Sound lowlands covered thousands of acres and were an important food staple for Pacific Northwest Indigenous peoples. Caution: death camas (Anticlea elegans) resembles Camassia in the vegetative state but has white flowers and is highly toxic; care is needed when collecting or dividing bulbs.

Native Range

Native to western North America from British Columbia south through Washington, Oregon, and California, and east to Montana, Wyoming, Utah, and Nevada. Found in moist prairies, meadows, open woodland margins, and vernally wet flats in clay or loam soils that are wet in spring and dry in summer. Historically abundant in the Willamette Valley and Puget Sound lowlands.

Suggested Uses

Naturalized in moist meadows, rain gardens, and prairie restorations at 4-6 inch (10-15 cm) bulb spacing. Planted in perennial borders alongside other spring bulbs and early perennials that fill the gap when Camassia goes dormant. Suited to Pacific Northwest native plant gardens and wetland margins.

How to Identify

Identified by grass-like basal leaves 8-24 inches (20-60 cm) long emerging in early spring, and racemes of 10-40 blue to blue-violet star-shaped flowers 1-1.5 inches (2.5-4 cm) across on erect scapes 18-30 inches (45-75 cm) tall in April-May. Six spreading, non-reflexed tepals and bottom-to-top opening sequence are consistent. Caution: death camas (Anticlea elegans) has similar foliage but white flowers and is highly toxic; never harvest bulbs without a positive flowering-stage identification.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1'6" - 2'6"

Width/Spread6" - 1'

Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years

Colors

Flower Colors

blue

purple

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~4 weeks

Spring

April through May in zones 4-8, with flowering beginning earlier at lower elevations and in warmer zones. Individual racemes flower over 2-3 weeks as blooms open from base to tip. Total bloom period per colony spans 3-4 weeks. Plants go fully dormant by July; above-ground parts disappear by midsummer.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Blue to blue-violet, star-shaped, six spreading tepals

Foliage Description

Mid-green, linear, grass-like

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

loamclay

Drainage

moist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-3 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Plant bulbs in autumn 3-4 inches (8-10 cm) deep and 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) apart in moist to wet clay or loam soil in full sun to partial shade. Performs best in sites that remain moist through spring and dry somewhat in summer, replicating the natural vernal wet meadow habitat. Supplemental spring irrigation is beneficial in dry springs; summer drought during dormancy is tolerated and mirrors native conditions. Do not disturb bulbs in summer as they are dormant and easily overlooked. Naturalizes readily in suitable conditions; established colonies require no maintenance. Deer may browse emerging foliage in early spring.

Pruning

Allow foliage and seed capsules to die back naturally; cutting foliage before it yellows reduces energy stored in bulbs. Remove seed capsules in late May to June if seed dispersal is not desired. No other pruning is required.

Maintenance Level

very low

Container Growing

✓ Suitable for container growing

Minimum container size: 3 gallons

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Non-toxic