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Key characteristics

Family: Asparagaceae
Height: 1 to 2 feet tall
Width: Clumps up to 1 foot wide
Flower color: Pale to deep blue
Foliage color: Deep green to bluish-green
Bloom time: Late spring to early summer
Light: Full sun to part shade
Water: Prefers moist, well-draining soil
Maintenance: Low
Growing zone: USDA zones 4 to 8
Wildlife: Flowers attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies

Bulbs

Camassia quamash

Common Camas

Camassia quamash is a perennial bulbous plant native to western North America, thriving in moist meadows, prairies, and along stream banks. Growing 1 to 2 feet tall and up to 1 foot wide, it features linear, grass-like basal leaves in deep green to bluish-green. In late spring to early summer, it produces stunning star-shaped flowers that range from pale to deep blue. Preferring full sun to part shade and moist, well-draining soil, Camassia quamash is low-maintenance, requiring minimal care beyond removing spent flower spikes.

Light

Full sun to part shade

Water

Prefers moist, well-draining soil

Bloom time

Late spring to early summer

Find this plant

Works well in

Borders
Cottage Gardens
Under Trees
Containers
Cut Flower Gardens

Companion plants

Daylilies · Japanese anemones · Bleeding hearts · Catmint · Heucheras · Lady's mantle

Design tip

Summer flowers carry the middle of the season, so place it where the bed needs color once spring bulbs fade. Plant in generous groups rather than single spots, and set them among perennials whose new growth covers the fading foliage.

Printable plant sheet (PDF)