Camas

About Camas

This is a Camas Mix of Common Camas (Camassia quamash) and Greater Camas. Both are beautiful perennials, native to the Pacific Northwest, prized for their striking purplish-blue flower spikes and rich cultural history. These hardy plants thrive in naturalised meadows or cultivated gardens, adding vibrant colour and ecological benefits to your landscape.

The edible bulbs, rich in inulin, have been an important food source for over 5,000 years, cultivated by First Peoples in British Columbia and beyond. While camas takes 4-6 years to fully establish, its longevity and beauty make it well worth the wait.

Where Can You Grow Camas

Camas thrives in Zones 3-8, preferring full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil. It performs beautifully in naturalised meadows, woodland edges, or garden beds.

History and Historical Uses

Camas holds deep cultural significance among Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest, who cultivated and managed camas meadows as vital food sources. The bulbs were traditionally slow-roasted or pit-cooked to convert inulin into digestible sugars, creating a nutritious and long-lasting staple. Today, camas is celebrated for its beauty, history, and ecological importance.

Canadian Zone Information

These are native to Western Canada but can be grown in the following zones:

• Zone 8: Sow seeds in autumn for natural stratification, or start indoors and transplant.
• Zones 5-7: Sow seeds outdoors in autumn or early spring.
• Zones 3-4: Sow seeds in autumn with heavy mulching or start indoors to ensure germination.
  

How to Grow and Harvest Camas

1. Planting: Sow seeds 1cm (0.5in) deep and 15-20cm (6-8in) apart in well-drained soil.
2. Watering: Keep soil consistently moist during the growing season but avoid waterlogging.
3. Patience: Camas requires 4-6 years to mature, but its blooms and bulbs will reward your patience.
4. Harvesting:
   • Bulbs should be harvested after flowering once the foliage dies back.
   • Always cook bulbs thoroughly before eating.

Seed Saving Tips for Future Supply

1. Allow Flowers to Go to Seed: Leave some flower spikes to mature and form seed pods.
2. Harvest Seeds: Once pods turn brown and dry, collect them before they split open.
3. Dry and Clean: Remove seeds from pods and spread them on a towel to dry completely.
4. Store: Store seeds in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. Seeds remain viable for up to 2 years.

Certified Organic By

Islands Organics Producers Association (Cert#1962)