How to Grow and Care for Camas

Large camas (Camassia leichtlinii) is a perennial herbaceous plant that blooms in spring with striking blue flowers that grow on a spiked flower stem. It grows from a bulb and will tolerate many different soil types. Prefers moist soil in winter and early spring, but will need to dry out after blooming season. It thrives in full sun or partial shade.

The small Camas (Camassia quamash) is a perennial wildflower that grows from bulbs and is native to western North America. The plant was used as a food source by Native Americans and was documented by the explorers Lewis and Clark. Very cold hardy, this flower grows well in moist loam and clay soils.

Atlantic camas, or wild hyacinth, is a member of the lily family with pale bluish-purple flowers. The bulbs of the atlantic camas are edible but can be difficult to distinguish from the deadly bulbs of the Zigadenus elegans.

Prairie camas is a perennial, bulbous plant native to North America, featuring slim, linear leaves that give rise to towering stalks topped with starry, blue to lavender flowers. Typically found in moist meadows and prairies, prairie camas's hardy nature allows it to thrive in springtime, creating striking swathes of color before the summer droughts. Its bloom time and habitat preference distinguish it as an essential contributor to its ecosystem's seasonal rhythms.

Named after the color of its flower ("alba" means "white"), large camas 'Alba' was bred to have white to cream flowers, adorned with yellow centers and attractive purple stamens, unlike the parent plant (Large camas) whose flowers are purple-blue. The cultivar's blooms appear 10-14 days later than the species' flowers.