Bulbs

Camassia
quamash

- Height 2-3 ft (60-90 cm)
- Planting distance 6 in (15 cm)
- flowers early summer to midsummer
- Moist, humus-rich soil
- Lightly shaded or sunny site
- Bulbs available fall
- Hardy to zones 4-5

An ideal site for these spiky-looking plants is a spot where their roots can reach down to water such as the bank of a pond. They will also grow in herbaceous borders and naturalize well in semi-wild grassy areas, if the soil does not dry out during the growing season. The starlike flowers - large spikes in blue and violet or white on 2-3 ft (60-90 cm) tall stems - arrive in early summer to midsummer. All species are hardy and need very little attention once they have been planted.

Popular species and cultivars
Camassia cusickii has wisteria-blue flowers on stems 2 ft (60 cm) high. Plant bulbs 3 in (7.5 cm) deep and 6 in (15 cm) apart, and they will spread freely. Camassia leichtlinii is striking, with creamy white or aster-blue flowers in midsummer. These plants are 3 ft (90 cm) high; set the bulbs 6 in (15 cm) apart. Camassia quamash is 21/2 ft (75 cm) high. Its violet-blue flowers are densely clustered together at the tops of the stems.

Bulbs