In September , we gardener tend to think about plant fountain - bloom bulbs . But before you set another daffodil , there’sa aboriginal bulbthat you should study : camassia .
Have n’t find out of it ? Well , it ’s a looker . From its tussock of grass - like foliage , it sends up a exclusive improbable raceme whose multiple flush subject from the bottom to the top of the raceme . And it bloom during the quiet prison term after the narcissus are fading , but before the summertime flowers begin their show . Despite its dreamy semblance — most are azure blue like mine — you rarely see it in local gardens .
It is say that when Meriwether Lewis and William Clark first find meadows of common camas ( Camassia quamash ) in the West , Lewis wrote , “ The colour of its prime resembles lakes of clear water . ”Meriwether Lewis was certainly not the last to remark on the resplendence of this spring blooper . Here ’s what a member of the Virginia Native Plant Society had to say about her first encounter with the Virginia native , Camassia scilloides :
tempestuous hyacinth ( Camassia scilloides ) is absolutely breathless , yet very few of us will ever see it growing naturally in Virginia due to its rarity . It is categorized by the Natural Heritage Program as an S1 ( critically imperiled)—which is defined as a species at very gamy risk of infection of extirpation from the state due to extreme rarity ( often 5 or fewer populations ) , very extortionate declines , or other cistron . fortunately for us , at least one population maturate on protected property ! Some VNPS members who attended the Cedars Appreciation Week were favorable enough to be at the right home at the good time to see wild hyacinth in blossom .
https://www.facebook.com/VirginiaNativePlantSociety/posts/wild-hyacinth-camassia- scilloides - is - dead - breathtaking - yet - very - few - of - us-/1887510421280090/. If you ’d like to see this aboriginal camassia atthe Cedars Natural Preserve in southwesterly Virginia , check outhttps://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/natural-area-preserves/thecedars .
TheCamassiagenus is a native of North America , but as take note above , only one species — Camassia scilloides — is native to Virginia . As indicated above , most of thecamassiaspecies are bump in the western part of North America , especially the Northwest . Only one species — Camassia scilloides — is aboriginal to the eastern part of North America . Sadly , this mintage is found in only a few counties in the western part of Virginia and is considered to be “ critically imperil ” in our state.http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Camassia+scilloides . The name camassia comes from the aboriginal American term for the plant : kamasorquamash . The genusCamassiawas traditionally assort in the Liliaceae syndicate , but has been prompt to the asparagus family .
There are six recognized species of theCamassiagenus in North America :
It ’s deserving note that there seems to be some confusion about species and figure in the baby’s room patronage . For instance , a telephone number of bulb producers refer toCamassia quamashasCamassia esculenta . The prime bulb industry has develop and commercialise a number of hybrids and extract , mostly in shades of blue , pink and white . For exercise , Camassia quamash`Orion ’ has deep downcast blossom . In the UK , the Avon Company has developed a sundry strain called the “ Avon Stellar hybrids . ”Gardeners ’ World Magazine . Speaking of disarray , I must confess that I still have n’t figured out which species is growing happily in my bed !
The electric-light bulb of several species ofCamassiawere a major element of the diet of the indigenous people of North America , even engendering trading among tribes . To see more about this fascinating chronicle , see“Common Camas , ” USDA / Natural Resources Conservation Service , Plant Guide . But I ’m not suggesting you append it toyour dieting ! First of all , the plant is easy put off witha works called death camas ( Zigadenus venenosus ) , which is toxic enough to drink down . Not only that , but the camassia bulbs can cause flatulence , as the Explorer with Lewis and Clark discover . In 1825 , plant explorer David Douglas report that :
Captain Lewis observes that when eaten in a large amount they occasion intestine complaints . This I am not aware of , but assuredly they make flatulence : when in the Indian shanty I was almost blown out by strength of the wind .
So I ’m not recommending Quamassia for edible landscaping !
I ’ve notice camassia to be unmistakably easy to grow . It likes either full sun or partial tincture . It prefers slenderly acidic humus - y dirt , but will adjust to clay . And though it needs water while it ’s actively mature in leap , nature in the main ply it at that clock time of year . My Quamassia blossom in late April . Subsequent period of time of drought in summertime — after it start abeyant — do n’t seem to affect it at all . Camassiais loosely not bothered by any pests or disease . And I ’m well-chosen to say that deer and rodents go forth it alone in my garden .
That all sound good , but Camassia have a couple characteristic that you require to have in mind before you start dig hole . First , its eatage - like leaves go dormant in the summertime , so you ’ll desire other works nearby that will make full in the gaps it get out behind . The middle of the bed or margin may be best , since plants in front and behind can fill in the empty spaces . secondly , it is reportedly not fond of mental disturbance , though I ’ve transplanted it successfully in my garden . And woefully , it blooms for a very short period of meter . But its short-lived nature seems to make me cherish it all the more .
constitute bulbs 4 - 6 ” deep and 6 ” asunder in fall . Camassiacan also be grown from seed , though the first salad days will not come along for 3 or 4 years after sow .
Camassia electric-light bulb multiply easy , so you wo n’t find yourself needing to divide it often . Eventually , however , you may have such a big clump that you will require to divide it , which should be done in summertime or fall when the bulbs are dormant . you may plant the little offset bulbs elsewhere in your garden ; they ’ll reach bloom size of it within 2 to 3 age .
I ’m still working oncompanion plantsfor mycamassias . They by all odds should have a background so their megrims can really tattle . Since prosperous or pea green foliage provides a wonderful line to the blues ofcamassias , I’ve been trying to get them to nestle nigh to myTradescantia‘Sweet Kate ’ but they do n’t seem to like the same storey of sun , so I ’m go to try place multiple bulbs in front ofSpiraea thunbergii‘Ogon ’ . Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania has combined two coinage ofCamassiaswith a phone number of plants in their beds , and I highly recommend their article — which contain enliven exposure , Longwood Gardens / blog / Fresh Spring Mix .
You ’re probably wondering about the handiness ofcamassiabulbs in the greenhouse trade . While it may be rare in garden center , you ’ll find it ’s readily usable among on-line purveyor of medulla oblongata . So do n’t hesitate to give this aboriginal bulb a attempt !
seed :
“ Camassia camas , ” Plant Database , https://www.wildflower.org / plants / result.php?id_plant = CAQU2
Ontario Rock Garden & Hardy Plant Society
“ Common Camas , ” USDA / Natural Resources Conservation Service , Plant Guide
“ Camassia scilloides,”Missouri Botanical Garden , Plant Finder
“ Camassia leichtlinii,”Missouri Botanical Garden , Plant Finder
“ Camassia cusickii,”Missouri Botanical Garden , Plant Finder
“ Camassia angusta,”Missouri Botanical Garden , Plant Finder
