{"id":10294,"date":"2022-05-03T15:14:47","date_gmt":"2022-05-03T13:14:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gardensillustrated.com\/?p=79639"},"modified":"2022-05-03T15:26:17","modified_gmt":"2022-05-03T13:26:17","slug":"camassias-how-to-care-for-and-grow","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/rss_feed\/camassias-how-to-care-for-and-grow\/","title":{"rendered":"Camassias: how to care for and grow"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By Abigail Whyte\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 03 May 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

Camassias are hardy, bulbous perennials<\/a> that are really versatile and can be used for a variety of planting schemes, including in mixed and herbaceous borders<\/a>, meadows<\/a> and wildflower areas; alongside streams, riverbanks, ponds<\/a> and woodland edges; or in containers.<\/p>\n

Camassias are native to the damp meadowlands of North America where Camassias quamash<\/em> was once grown as a foodstuff by Native Americans. The six predominantly blue, species range in height from the statuesque Camassias<\/em>\u00a0leichtlinii<\/em> (1.2m) to the squatter Camassias<\/em>\u00a0quamash<\/em> (30cm). Myriad blue tones range from deepest-indigo Camassias<\/em>\u00a0quamash<\/em> \u2018Orion\u2019 to denim-blue Camassias<\/em>\u00a0leichtlinii <\/em>\u2018Blue Candle\u2019.<\/p>\n

Somewhere in between the starry-eyed singles and full doubles are gently ruffled blooms such as Camassias<\/em>\u00a0leichtlinii<\/em> \u2018Harlequin\u2019. Delicate-pink Camassias<\/em>\u00a0leichtlinii<\/em> \u2018Pink Star\u2019 is a rare, more recent phenomenon. Strap-like foliage is finer, more grass-like, on smaller specimens and a few have variegated leaves, such as Camassias<\/em>\u00a0quamash<\/em> \u2018Blue Melody,\u2019 and Camassias<\/em>\u00a0leichtlinii<\/em> \u2018Sacajawea\u2019.<\/p>\n

How to grow camassias<\/h2>\n

Where to grow camassias<\/h3>\n

For best results, grow them in reliably moist soil and introduce a little shade if possible to ensure that the flowers hold longer. Water in their dormant period (July to December) if there are prolonged dry periods.<\/p>\n

When to plant camassia bulbs<\/h3>\n

Plant dry bulbs out in autumn (September to November) in a damp, dappled site, 20cm deep or roughly two to three times their own depth and 6-10cm apart. Water in well. If they don\u2019t flower, they\u2019re too dry or overcrowded and ready for splitting.<\/p>\n

Divide established clumps in July to August as new tips can start to emerge from September onwards. Replant at the same depth as the original clump. No need to feed.<\/p>\n

When do camassias flower?<\/h3>\n

Flowering begins around mid to late April with Camassias<\/em>\u00a0leichtlinii<\/em> subsp. suksdorfii<\/em> Caerulea Group and culminates some eight to ten weeks later with starbursts of Camassias<\/em>\u00a0leichtlinii<\/em> \u2018Semiplena\u2019 in late May to June.<\/p>\n

13 of the best camassias to grow<\/h2>\n

Camassia leichtlinii<\/em> subsp. suksdorfii<\/em> \u2018Alba\u2019<\/h3>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Camassia leichtlinii<\/em> subsp. suksdorfii<\/em> \u2018Alba\u2019<\/span><\/figcaption> \u00a9\u00a0Clive Nichols<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Single, star-shaped, creamy-white flowers with lilac-tinged anthers. Flowers from late spring, its floriferous racemes held high on sturdy stems. Perfect for naturalising. 1.2m.<\/p>\n

Camassia cusickii<\/em> \u2018Zwanenburg\u2019<\/h3>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Camassia cusickii<\/em> \u2018Zwanenburg\u2019<\/span><\/figcaption> \u00a9 Clive Nichols<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Plump flower buds burst into lavender-blue petals that wear a paler central stripe. A favourite of designer Chris Beardshaw. 75cm.<\/p>\n

Camassia<\/em> \u2018Blue Heaven\u2019<\/h3>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Camassia<\/em> \u2018Blue Heaven\u2019<\/span><\/figcaption> \u00a9 Clive Nichols<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

A mid-height, hybrid cross between Camassias<\/em>\u00a0leichtlinii<\/em> subsp. suksdorfii<\/em> and Camassias<\/em>\u00a0cusickii<\/em>. The flower spike bears around 100 radiating pale, sky-blue, star-like flowers, the petals slightly recurved. 80cm.<\/p>\n

Camassia leichtlinii<\/em> subsp. suksdorfii<\/em> Caerulea Group<\/h3>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Camassia leichtlinii<\/em> subsp. suksdorfii<\/em> Caerulea Group<\/span><\/figcaption> \u00a9 Clive Nichols<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

A good naturaliser; tall, statuesque and one of the first to flower, its cool-green buds burst into purply-blue stars, studded with sulphur-yellow stamens. 1.3m.<\/p>\n

Camassia leichtlinii \u2018Pink Star\u2019<\/h3>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Camassia leichtlinii<\/em> \u2018Pink Star\u2019<\/span><\/figcaption> \u00a9 Clive Nichols<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

A relatively rare, delicate, pale pink, but increasingly available. Featured in Chris Beardshaw\u2019s 2018 Chelsea<\/a> gold-medal-winning and Best in Show garden. 75cm.<\/p>\n

Camassia leichtlinii<\/em> \u2018Harlequin\u2019<\/h3>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Camassia leichtlinii<\/em> \u2018Harlequin\u2019<\/span><\/figcaption> \u00a9\u00a0Clive Nichols<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Softer sprays of creamy-white, ragged flowers replace trademark star-shaped florets. Borne on long flower wands, with sage-green stems. Rare. 90cm-1.2m.<\/p>\n

Camassia leichtlinii<\/em> \u2018Semiplena\u2019<\/h3>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Camassia leichtlinii<\/em> \u2018Semiplena\u2019<\/span><\/figcaption> \u00a9 Clive Nichols<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

This white, double-petalled cultivar has sterile flowers that are the last and longest to bloom, right into June. 90cm.<\/p>\n

Camassia quamash<\/em> \u2018Orion\u2019<\/h3>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Camassia quamash<\/em> \u2018Orion\u2019<\/span><\/figcaption> Clive Nichols<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

One of the deepest indigo blues available, its short stature and grass-like foliage is good for fronting mixed meadows, fringing ponds and in small containers. 35cm.<\/p>\n

Camassia quamash<\/em> \u2018Blue Melody\u2019<\/h3>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Camassia quamash<\/em> \u2018Blue Melody\u2019<\/span><\/figcaption> \u00a9 Clive Nichols<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

A short cultivar with pale-blue flowers and yellow anthers that pick up on the striped-yellow margins of its variegated foliage. Good for front of border, meadows or containers. 35cm.<\/p>\n

Camassia leichtlinii<\/em> \u2018Blue Candle\u2019<\/h3>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Camassia leichtlinii<\/em> \u2018Blue Candle\u2019<\/span><\/figcaption> \u00a9 Clive Nichols<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Huge, dense racemes of denim-blue flowers on sturdy stems. Great in mixed borders but also naturalises well. 75cm.<\/p>\n

Camassia leichtlinii<\/em> \u2018Sacajawea\u2019<\/h3>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Camassia leichtlinii<\/em> \u2018Sacajawea\u2019<\/span><\/figcaption> \u00a9 Clive Nichols<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

A creamy-flowered cultivar with distinctive, architectural, variegated foliage. 80cm.<\/p>\n

Camassia leichtlinii<\/em> amethyst seedling<\/h3>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Camassia leichtlinii<\/em> amethyst seedling<\/span><\/figcaption> \u00a9 Clive Nichols<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

One of six unnamed cultivars, bred by Stella, who is developing a range of pink-amethyst-hued cultivars. 70cm.<\/p>\n

Camassia leichtlinii<\/em> subsp. suksdorfii<\/em> \u2018Maybelle\u2019<\/h3>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Camassia leichtlinii<\/em> subsp. suksdorfii<\/em> \u2018Maybelle\u2019<\/span><\/figcaption> \u00a9 Clive Nichols<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

A recent introduction with sturdy but beautiful racemes of vivid-blue-tinted, purple flowers and golden stamens that bloom from May onwards. 60cm.<\/p>\n

Where to see and buy camassias<\/h2>\n

Hare Spring Cottage Plants<\/a>, Church Orchard, Alne, York YO61 1RX, harespringcottageplants.co.uk<\/a>\nVisits to the nursery and gardens must be pre-arranged by emailing stella@harespringcottageplants.co.uk<\/a><\/p><\/body><\/html>\n

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