Camas Lily Bulbs

Plant in meadows open woodlands and in groups for showy results.

Camas lily bulbs. This vivid blue flowered nutritious bulb like root of the camas lily camassia quamash was historically one of the most widely used plant foods of the nez perce people and it remains important for many tribal members today. It is an excellent naturalizer and could be found in the wilds of idaho spreading out across a prairie like a lake of cool blue water. The camas lily also known as wild hyacinth or indian lily. Camas lily is a lovely native bulb species that blooms in late spring with clear blue flowers.

Camassia is a genus of plants in the asparagus family native to western north america common names include camas quamash indian hyacinth camash and wild hyacinth. Appreciates moist fertile and acidic soil in full sun to part shade. Camassia camas lily or indian hyacinth are native to north america. First documented by lewis and clark in the cascade mountains where the bulb was an important food plant for the native americans this lovely wildflower is very cold hardy and long lived.

Native peoples have refined the art of skillfully digging the bulbs with a crafted stick and then slow cooking camas in an earthen oven a finely tuned skill. Citation needed it grows in the wild in great numbers in moist meadows. This pretty flowering bulb is a member of the asparagus family and was an important food staple for both native americans and early explorers to our country. Camas bulbs need to be cooked at low temperatures for at least 12 hours allowing maximum conversion from inulin to fructose making them sweet and sugary like a pear or fig.

Although you can t tell by its name camassia are members of the hyacinth family. Camassia quamash bulbs are an excellent choice for moist loam and clay soils. Camassia quamash camas with the enchanting look of a meadow wildflower this unique upright bulb plant is sure to win a place in the hearts of gardeners everywhere. It produces blue star shaped flowers from a tall spiky stem.

Camas lily also known as wild hyacinth or indian lily is also culturally significant perfect for both the busy gardener and the history buff. Would the longing to lie down and be washed by that beauty abate if you knew their usefulness how the natives ground their bulbs for flour how the settlers hogs. Camassia quamash is a real charmer with erect racemes of blooms in the most beautiful shade of lavender blue we ve seen in a long time. Consider the liles of the field the blue banks of camas opening into acres of sky along the road.

They have long narrow leaves and the esculenta variety has bluish violet starry flowers. Camassia or camas lily is a beautiful native spring flowering bulb. They are perennial plants with basal linear leaves measuring 8 to 32 inches 20 to 81 cm in length which emerge early in the spring. The camassia lily bulb camassia quamash syn.