Camassia Perennials: A Versatile Addition to Your Planting Schemes
Blossoming beauty: Expert recommendations on cultivating enchanting camassias along with top picks for a flourishing garden.
Catch a glimpse into the captivating world of camassia perennials. These hardy bulbous plants are just as charmful as they are versatile, making them an ideal choice for various gardening projects, spanning mixed borders, meadows, and wildflower areas, as well as along streams, riverbanks, ponds, and woodland edges, or even in containers.
For a closer look at exceptional planting designs, delve into Spring border planting design by Sarah Price, or unveil the most beautiful spring flowers to plant. Looking to create a stunning spring display in a pot? Our recommendations have got you covered.
Native to the damp meadowlands of North America, camassias boast six predominantly blue species that range in height, from the tall, aristocratic Camassia leichtlinii (1.2m), to the compact, 30cm Camassia quamash. Discover these flowering delights in a rainbow of shades, from the deepest indigo Camassia quamash 'Orion' to the denim-blue Camassia leichtlinii 'Blue Candle'.
Somewhere in between, you'll find gently ruffled blooms like Camassia leichtlinii 'Harlequin,' delicate-pink Camassia leichtlinii 'Pink Star,' and exotic variegated foliage on Camassia quamash 'Blue Melody,' and Camassia leichtlinii 'Sacajawea.'
Growing Camassias
++; Camassias thrive in reliably moist soil and appreciate a touch of shade to keep their flowers lasting longer. Don't forget to water during their dormant period (July to December) if persistently dry conditions persist.
During autumn (September to November), sow dry bulbs in a damp, dappled site, two to three times their depth (approximately 20cm) and 6-10cm apart. Water them well following planting, and be prepared to divide established clumps in July or August as new tips start to emerge from September onwards.
Watering and splitting are only required if they fail to flower, indicating that they're either too dry or overcrowded.
When do camassias flower?
Beginning around mid to late April, flowering duration passes through the starbursts of Camassia leichtlinii 'Semiplena' in late May to June, taking roughly 8-10 weeks.
Here's a highlight of 13 exceptional camassia cultivars to include in your garden planting scheme:
Camassia leichtlinii subsp. suksdorfii 'Alba'
Star-shaped, creamy-white flowers with a lavender-tinged anther adorn tall, sturdy stems for a naturalized look that's perfect for smaller spaces. Flowering begins from late spring.
Camassia cusickii 'Zwanenburg'
Plump flower buds give way to lovely lavender-blue petals with a paler central stripe, earning it a spot among designer Chris Beardshaw's favorites. Reach up to 75cm in height.
Camassia 'Blue Heaven'
A hybrid cross between Camassias leichtlinii subsp. suksdorfii and Camassias cusickii, presenting approximately 100 pale, sky-blue, star-like flowers on a mid-height spike.
Camassia leichtlinii subsp. suksdorfii Caerulea Group
Grow statuesque and one of the first to flower, boasting cool-green buds that burst into purply-blue stars adorned with yellow stamens. This variety is excellent for naturalizing and reaching up to 1.3m.
Camassia leichtlinii 'Pink Star'
A relatively rare, delicate, pale pink variety that has grown increasingly popular. This cultivar made an appearance in Chris Beardshaw's 2018Chelsea gold-medal-winning and Best in Show garden. Reach up to 75cm in height.
Camassia leichtlinii 'Harlequin'
More ruffled and creamy-white than the usual star-shaped florets, Camassia leichtlinii 'Harlequin' features flowers on long flower wands with sage-green stems. This rare cultivar grows between 90cm and 1.2m.
Camassia leichtlinii 'Semiplena'
White, double-petalled cultivar brings sterile flowers that are the last and longest to bloom right into June. Reach up to 90cm in height.
Camassia quamash 'Orion'
One of the deepest indigo blues available, Camassia quamash 'Orion' is compact, making it the ideal choice for fronting mixed meadows, fringing ponds, and small containers. Grow up to 35cm.
Camassia quamash 'Blue Melody'
A short cultivar with pale-blue flowers and yellow anthers complemented by the striped-yellow margins of its variegated foliage. Excellent for the front of borders, meadows, or containers. Reach up to 35cm.
Camassia leichtlinii 'Blue Candle'
Producing huge, dense racemes of denim-blue flowers on sturdy stems, Camassia leichtlinii 'Blue Candle' is a striking choice for mixed borders. It also makes a great candidate for naturalization, reaching up to 75cm.
Camassia leichtlinii 'Sacajawea'
An elegant creamy-flowered cultivar characterized by its unique, architectural, variegated foliage. Grows up to 80cm in height.
Camassia leichtlinii amethyst seedling
One of six unnamed cultivars, bred by Stella, who is developing a range of pink-amethyst-hued cultivars. This rare variety grows up to 70cm.
Camassia leichtlinii subsp. suksdorfii 'Maybelle'
A recent introduction with sturdy flower racemes of vivid-blue-tinted, purple flowers and golden stamens that bloom from May onwards. Reach up to 60cm in height.
Consider exploring other Purple Flowers for a diverse and captivating garden.
If you'd like to delve deeper into the fascinating world of camassia perennials and other related plants, visit Hare Spring Cottage Plants, located in Church Orchard, Alne, York YO61 1RX. Send an email to [email protected] to schedule a visit.
Enjoy the blend of beauty and versatility that camassia perennials bring to home-and-garden landscapes and lifestyles. Apart from mixed borders and meadows, these plants are perfect for various garden settings, such as meadows, wildflower areas, along streams, ponds, and woodland edges, or even in containers.
Learn more about these enchanting plants in books like Spring border planting design by Sarah Price and The most beautiful spring flowers to plant, or discover expert recommendations for a captivating pot display.
Camassias bloom extravagantly from mid to late April, with flowers ranging from creamy-white to deep indigo blues. Don't miss adding unique cultivars like the pink-star-flowered Camassia leichtlinii 'Pink Star,' the striking Camassia leichtlinii 'Blue Candle,' or the variegated-leafed Camassia quamash 'Blue Melody' to your garden planting schemes.
