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Camassia

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description Camassia Overview

Camassia is a genus of bulbous perennial plants native to North America and placed in the asparagus family, Asparagaceae. Its spring flower spikes are commonly blue, lilac, or white, while the bulbs of several species were gathered, cooked, and eaten as a starch by Indigenous peoples of western North America. Camassia is therefore both an ornamental bulb genus and an important ethnobotanical subject, and it must be distinguished from toxic death camas, whose bulbs can look similar.

help Camassia FAQ

What is Camassia, and where does it grow naturally?

Camassia is a genus of bulbous perennial plants native to North America. It is placed in the asparagus family, Asparagaceae, and is often found in moist meadows, prairies, and open woodland habitats.

What colors do Camassia flowers have?

Camassia flower spikes are commonly blue, lilac, or white. The star-shaped flowers open progressively along tall spring stalks.

Were Camassia bulbs used as food?

Yes, bulbs of several Camassia species were gathered and cooked by Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest and other parts of western North America. Cooking converted the bulb's stored carbohydrates into an edible starch.

Is Camassia a bulb or a seed-grown annual?

Camassia is a bulbous perennial, so it can return from underground bulbs for multiple growing seasons. It is not normally treated as a one-season annual like cornflower.

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