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Camassia leichtlinii (Great Camas, Large Camas)

Updated: Oct 6


Soft lavender spikes of the Great Camas plant in spring
Lovely soft lavender flower of the Great Camas plant in the wild

Camassia leichtlinii

(Great Camas, Large Camas) 🌿💙


Description 📝

Camassia leichtlinii is a striking native bulb of the Pacific Northwest, known for its tall spires of star-shaped blue to violet flowers in late spring to early summer. Historically valued as a food source by Indigenous peoples, Camas meadows once carpeted valleys and prairies in vibrant blue. Today, it is prized in both naturalistic and designed landscapes for its showy blooms, adaptability, and ecological importance.


Ideal Uses 🌱

  • Naturalized meadows and prairie-style plantings

  • Rain gardens or moist, open woodland edges

  • Pollinator gardens (especially for native bees and butterflies)

  • Mass plantings for seasonal displays


Plant Profile 📋

  • Botanical Name: Camassia leichtlinii

  • Common Name: Great Camas, Large Camas

  • Family: Asparagaceae

  • Plant Type: Perennial bulb (also grown from seed)

  • Native Range: Pacific Northwest, from British Columbia to California

  • Mature Size: 24–40" tall, 12–18" wide

  • Exposure: ☀️ Full sun to 🌤️ part shade

  • Soil: Moist, well-drained, tolerates clay; prefers not to dry out completely in spring bloom season

  • Bloom Time: ⏰ Late spring to early summer

  • Flower Color: 💙 Blue to violet (rarely white)

  • Foliage: 🌿 Strap-like green leaves that fade in summer dormancy

  • Hardiness Zones: USDA 4–9


Maintenance Tips 🛠️

  • Plant bulbs in fall, about 4–6" deep.

  • Allow foliage to die back naturally after blooming to replenish bulbs.

  • Tolerates seasonal wetness but dislikes standing water.

  • Can be grown from seed, though it may take 3–5 years to flower. Sow seed in fall, outdoors, for best germination.

  • Minimal care once established—naturalizes well if conditions are right.


Design Notes 🎨

  • Best in drifts or massed for impact.

  • Combines beautifully with native sedges (Carex spp.), Iris tenax, Lupinus polyphyllus, and spring-flowering shrubs.

  • Perfect transition plant between cultivated beds and wilder meadows.


Ecological Notes 🐝🦋

  • Supports pollinators including native bees, hoverflies, and butterflies.

  • Historically an essential food plant for Indigenous peoples, who carefully managed camas meadows with fire.

  • Provides early-season nectar before many summer-blooming plants begin.


Cautions ⚠️

  • Do not confuse with Zigadenus (death camas), which is toxic and lacks the blue flowers.


Where to Buy Camassia leichtlinii 🔗


Local & Regional Sources (PNW)

  • Tadpole Haven Native Plants (Snohomish, WA) – Specializes in Pacific Northwest natives, including Camassia leichtlinii (availability may vary). tadpolehaven.com

  • Far Reaches Farm (Port Townsend, WA) – Wide assortment of rare and native plants; often carries Camassia leichtlinii and ships within the region. farreachesfarm.com

  • RoozenGaarde / Washington Bulb Co. (Mt. Vernon, WA) – Known for tulips, also offers Camassia leichtlinii bulbs seasonally. tulips.com

  • Northwest Meadowscapes (WA) – Offers Great Camas (Camassia leichtlinii) seed and sometimes bulbs. northwestmeadowscapes.com

Mail-Order Sources (National)

  • Van Engelen – Multiple Camassia leichtlinii selections (including named cultivars). vanengelen.com

  • K. van Bourgondien – Heritage bulb supplier with several Camassia leichtlinii cultivars. dutchbulbs.com


Further resources for plant purchases (including additional nurseries and shipping options) are on my Resources page

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