Camassia leichtlinii

subsp. suksdorfii

BLUE CAMAS

Camassia leichtlinii subsp. suksdorfii
BLUE CAMAS

Gorgeous Camassia leichtlinii subsp. suksdorfii has rich, blue-violet spires, resembling a giant Bluebell.
But thank heavens the common name of Blue Camas is less of a mouthful then the full botanical moniker.

Loved by a Prince

You can see this beautiful bulb massed in a glorious show through the flower meadow at Prince Charles’ Highgrove garden.

Gorgeous & impressive

Large blue-violet stars are so impressive with each flower up to 7.5cm across.
And up to 80 flowers packed on each stem.
Blooms opening sequentially from bottom to top, on naked, stout stems rising above the foliage clump.

Prolific blooming to cover a gap

Blue Camas blooms prolifically during late spring and early summer.
So it draws all eyes in that gap in the garden year, when the spring blossoms have finished, but the summer flowers are still too young.

Striking cut flowers

Plus Blue Camas stems cut beautifully to fill a large vase with spectacular flowers.
The architectural strap shaped leaves are up to 60cm long, while flower stems tower up to 75-90cm. high.

Easy to grow even with dry summers

Plant Camassia leichtlinii subsp. suksdorfii in full sun to part shade.
It is actually a hardy, bulbous perennial.
And therefore perfect for gardeners who have limited water over summer.
Because Camassia grows and flowers prolifically in spring and early summer when it does need moisture, but then it is perfectly happy to dry off during summer, as the bulbs head into dormancy.
These bulbous perennials enjoy soil that is well drained over summer, and resent being waterlogged at any time. Though they are happy in clay based soils, as long as they have drainage with gravel and humus.
Camassia are frost hardy down to at least -10C approx.

Resistant to rabbits & deer

Fortunately the dreaded rabbits and deer do not enjoy Camassia foliage or bulbs, so tend to leave them well alone.
Camassia are also rarely if ever troubled by insect pests or plant diseases.
All in all, Camassia are hardy, easy to grow, and very low maintenance garden treasures.
So much show for so little work.

90cm. High spectacular flowers x 75cm. wide clump of strappy foliage

SEED SOWING ADVICE:

Sow Camassia seeds in a punnet indoors at any cool time of the year.

Indoors: First sow the seeds using good quality seed raising mix.
Then cover the seeds with sieved mix or with fine washed river sand to a depth of 5mm approx.

Then thoroughly moisten the punnet by standing it in a shallow water bath and allowing the moisture to percolate up to the surface of the mix from below.

Now continue to keep the sown punnet moist in a well-lit, cool place (not in direct sunlight).
Temperatures of  4-15C. are recommended for rapid and optimum germination.
Artificial heat is not needed, and may in fact inhibit germination.

Seeds germinate in 30 days approx. and seed sprouting is usually staggered.
The staggered germination is a natural trick by the plant to give individual seeds a sporting chance of germinating during favourable conditions
So patience – do not discard the punnet too quickly – more will come later.

However if the seeds are shy to germinate after 30 days, then they need a period of chilling to break their natural dormancy.

So cling wrap the sown, moist punnet and place in the fridge (not freezer) for 6 weeks.
Then remove from the fridge, unwrap, moisten again and continue to keep moist in the cool, well-lit position

Pot on individual seedlings as they germinate, until they are of sufficient size to be planted in open ground.

Seed Count: 12 seeds per pack approx.
(We always aim to exceed the stated seed count, and give a generous serve).

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