This often overlooked spring bulb with star-shaped flowers is native to North America.
This often overlooked but spectacular spring bulb takes over the show aftertulipsdrop their petals anddaffodilfoliage begins to yellow.
The plant produces spires of beautiful star-shaped flowers in late spring and early summer.
Credit: Jacob Fox
Reaching up to 4 feet in height, this is a tall plant for a spring-flowering bulb.
Its striking blue-purple flowers are visible from the distance.
Camassia forms thick clumps, naturalizing over time.
Credit:Grant Webster
The soil should be rich and moist but not soggy, with a slightly acidic pH.
The bulbs can be planted near a pond or stream but avoid low-laying areas where moisture accumulates.
Camassia looks best if planted in large drifts.
Credit:Grant Webster
How and When to Plant Camassia
Like other spring bulbs, camassia isplanted in the fall.
Plant bulbs 4 to 6 inches deep, with the pointy side up.
Space bulbs 6 inches apart.
Credit: Greg Ryan
Water well and cover the soil with a 2-inch layer of mulch.
Care Tips
Camassia requires minimal care.
It blooms best when it gets ample moisture during the spring growing season.
Credit: Blaine Moats
Water plants as needed to maintain a moist though not wet growing environment.
Instead, apply a2-inch layer of compostor leaf litter around the plants every spring.
Pruning
After blooming, camassia foliage withers and slowly turns yellow.
Credit: Carson Downing
Allow the foliage to die back completely removing it.
Plants go dormant in midsummer.
Frequent temperature fluctuations and cycles of freezing and thawing during the winter can damage or kill the bulbs.
Pests and Problems
Camassia is blissfully unbothered by any serious pests or diseases.
At the most, you might find aphids,slugs, and snails on the plant.
Deer and rodents usually show no interest in the bulbs.
How to Propagate Camassia
Most camassia species form clumps with the bulbs forming offsets over time.
Digging those up, thendividing and replanting themis the easiest way to propagate camassia.
Water well after planting.
Types of Camassia
Common Camas
Camassia quamashhas sky-blue to deep-blue flowers.
It is native to western North America.
Blue Melody is a profusely blooming cultivar with lots of dark blue flowers.
Flowers are white, cream-colored, blue, or purple with yellow anthers.
It makes a good cut flower.
Popular cultivars include Blue Danube and Blue Heaven.
It does not produce bulb offsets but reproduces by reseeding itself.
Zone 4-8
Cusicks Camass
In the wild,Camassiacusickiiis exclusively found in Oregon and Idaho.
It has pale wisteria-blue flowers.
Zwanenburg is a sport (naturally occurring variety) with deep wisteria-blue flowers.
There are many buds per stalk, and the bloom time can last up to three months.
Spiderworts aren’t too picky when it comes to growing conditions.
Many varieties are just as happy in part shade as in full sun.
Most appreciate some shade from the hot afternoon sun.
A common native species of spiderwort is Virginia spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana).
It flowers in early summer.
There are also varieties with a more compact growth habit.
Of the more than 60 plant species in the genus, all but one are native to North America.
And there are several different kinds of phlox, both upright and creeping phlox.
Garden and meadow phlox produce large panicles of fragrant flowers in a wide assortment of colors.
They also add height, heft, and charm to a border.
Zone 3-8
Frequently Asked Questions
Most of the camassia species are native to northwestern North America.
Only one species,Camassia scilloides, is native to the eastern part of North America.
This long-lasting cut flower is a favorite of florists.
Snip stems in the early morning shortly after the lowest flowers begin to open.
Quickly plunge stems into a pail of water.
The remainder of the flowers on the stem will open in the coming days.
