Large Camas (Camassia leichtlinii)

Large Camas

(Camassia leichtlinii)

Tom Bech

CC BY 2.0

Image By: Tom Bech

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Copyright Notice: Photo by: Tom Bech | License Type: CC BY 2.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ | Uploader: Tom Bech | Publisher: Flickr

Estimated Native Range

Summary

Camassia leichtlinii, commonly known as Large Camas, is a deciduous perennial herb that thrives in the moist meadows, grassy slopes, and open woodlands of the Pacific Northwest, including the Northwestern USA and Canada. It reaches a typical height of 24–48 inches (61–122 cm) and is notable for its attractive, star-shaped flowers that bloom in a range of colors including blue, cream, purple, white, and yellow during the late spring to early summer. The flowers are quite showy and are arranged in tall, spike-like racemes that can add vertical interest to garden settings.

Large Camas is valued for its striking floral display and its adaptability to a range of soil moisture conditions. It is often used in naturalized plantings, perennial borders, and as a feature in water-wise gardens. The bulbs of Camassia leichtlinii have historical culinary significance to Indigenous peoples, requiring careful preparation through baking or roasting to be edible. In cultivation, it prefers full sun to part shade and requires medium amounts of water, especially during its active growth in the spring. It is adaptable to various soil types, provided they have good drainage. While generally low-maintenance, it is important to allow the foliage to die back naturally after flowering to ensure the bulbs store enough energy for the next season.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

Plant Type: Herb
Height: 3-4 feet
Width: 1-2 feet
Growth Rate: Moderate
Flower Color: Blue, Purple, White
Flowering Season: Spring
Leaf Retention: Deciduous

Growth Requirements

Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
Water: Medium
Drainage: Fast, Medium, Slow

Common Uses

Bank Stabilization, Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Edible*Disclaimer: Easyscape's listed plant edibility is for informational use. Always verify the safety and proper identification of any plant before consumption., Erosion Control, Groundcover, Hummingbird Garden, Low Maintenance, Salt Tolerant, Showy Flowers, Street Planting

Natural Habitat

Moist meadows, grassy slopes, and open woodlands in the Pacific Northwest

Other Names

Common Names: Camas , Great Camas , Mörk Stjärnhyacint

Scientific Names: Camassia leichtlinii , Camassia leichtlinii subsp. typica , Quamasia leichtlinii , Camassia esculenta var. leichtlinii

GBIF Accepted Name: Camassia leichtlinii (Baker) S.Watson