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Native Plant Propagation Guidelines:
forbs

Camassia quamash (common camas)

Category: 
forbs

common camas (photo by Dave Polster)

Perennial herb from a deep, egg-shaped bulb 2-4 cm long; flowering stems 20-70 cm tall, smooth. Leaves: Basal leaves several to numerous, linear-lanceolate and grass-like, to 50 cm long, 1-3 cm wide, smooth, sheathing at the base, the margins entire; stem leaves lacking. Flowers: Inflorescence a terminal raceme of five to many, stalked flowers, the stalks 1-2 cm long, spreading in flower, ascending to erect in fruit; flowers pale to deep blue, rarely white, of six similar, distinct, petal-like segments (tepals), the tepals 15-40 mm long, 2-8 mm wide; six stamens, anthers yellow to violet; one pistil, three-chambered. Fruits: Fruit capsules, egg-shaped to oblong, cross-ridged, 1-2.5 cm long; fruiting stalks shorter than the bracts, ascending to erect, curved in towards stem; seeds several to many, shiny black, 2-4 mm long (Douglas et al., 2001). Two varieties occur in BC: (1) Perianth segments three to five-veined, mostly less than 6 mm wide, usually less than 30 mm long; stalks appressed in fruit; plants from the dry interior: var. quamash, and (2) Perianth segments five to nine-veined, mostly more than 6 mm wide, usually more than 30 mm long; stalks ascending or spreading in fruit; plants from the coast: var. maxima (Gould) Boivin. Photo by Dave Polster.

Scientific Name: 

Camassia quamash (Pursh) Greene

Family: 
Liliaceae
English Name: 
common camas
Other Names: 
blue camas

Geographical Range and Habitat Requirements

Ecological Setting: 

Mesic to vernally moist meadows and grasslands in the lowland, steppe and montane zones (Douglas et al., 2001).

Soil Texture: 

Nitrogen rich soils. Moder and Mull humus (Klinka et al., 1989).

Nutrients: 
n/a
Soil Reaction and Salinity: 

pH 5.1 to 7.8 (Dave’s Garden, 2006).

Moisture Regime: 

Dry to moderately moist soils (Klinka et al., 1989).

Shade Tolerance: 

Shade-intolerant (Klinka et al., 1989).

Successional Status: 

Seral species on moist sites. Fire climax on drier sites (USDA, 2006).

BEC Zone and GOE Community Status: 

Strongly associated with Coastal Douglas-fir (CDF) Zone and its dry sub-zone characterized by the presence of Quercus garryana (BCMOF, 1999).

Uses

Site Rehabilitation: 

Useful for prairie restoration (USDA, 2006).

Wildlife: 

A good bee plant (PFF, 2006). Ungulates eat Camassia and gophers may even transport bulbs into new areas (Beckwith, 2004).

Landscaping: 

Use in meadows, grassy slopes and banks. Showy bloom with attractive seed heads. Excellent in borders, mixed borders and bulb beds. Very tough plant for exposed, hot dry sites once established (S. Bastin, personal communication).

First Nations: 

Staple root crop pre-European contact. Prolonged pit cooking converts the high levels of inulin inherent in Camassia to digestible sugars. Hence, Camassia was a sweetener as well as an important trade item. The gathering of Camassia illustrates local systems of land management: family plots were well tended throughout generations and kept clear of weeds and rocks, actively maintained by hand and controlled burns for long-term harvest (Turner, 1995). Cakes have been formed, cooked and dried for storage and trade (Pojar & MacKinnon, 1994).

Other Uses: 
n/a

Seed Propagation

Flowering Time: 

Early April through mid-May (Beckwith, 2004).

Fruit Ripening Time: 

May through summer (Beckwith, 2004).

Seed Collection Time: 

July through summer (Beckwith, 2004).

Crop Intervals: 

Annual after first 2-3 years (USDA, 2006).

Number of Seeds per Kilogram: 

258,015 (Plants Database, 2006).

Seed Viability: 

Good (PFF, 2006; Pettinger, 2002; Beckwith, 2004).

Fruit and Seed Collection and Extraction: 

Allow seedheads to dry on plant, then remove and collect (Dave’s Garden, 2006). Common camas seeds can be collected as soon as the pods mature (turn light brown) or split open to reveal the mature black seeds. Pods ripen from late May-July depending on latitude, longitude, moisture conditions, or elevation (USDA).

Seed Storage: 

Dry seeds can be dried and stored at 3-5º C for 2 to 5 years (USDA, 2006).

Fruit/Seed Dormancy and Treatment: 

For maximum germination, seeds should have 42 -100 days of cold, moist stratification at 1-5º C (Beckwith, 2004). Alternatively seed can be sown in trays or pots in the fall and allowed to break dormancy naturally (Wick and Evans). After fall sowing, one-leafed, grass-like seedlings will emerge in February or March under suitable conditions. Seedlings require moisture through the spring growing period to survive. Warm temperatures during seedling development can be lethal (USDA). Seeds can also be sprinkled on top of soil in flats lined with pea gravel. The flats should be a minimum of 15 cm deep and should then be kept in a semi-shaded location for many years. This will form a sod or turf which can be cut up and placed in gardens, meadow planting or landscaping (Pettinger and Costanzo, 1981).

Vegetative Propagation

Method Success Rate Time of Collection
Softwood cuttings    
Semi-hardwood cuttings    
Hardwood cuttings    
Root cuttings    
Suckers    
Plant division Good (USDA Plant Data Sheet). Bulbs, bulblets and offsets can be successfully transplanted (Beckwith, 2004). Early summer to mid-fall after leaves die back.

 

Outplanting Characteristics and Requirements

Plant camas outdoors in the fall or early winter, when soils are moist enough to dig and prevailing soil temperatures are cool. Fall planting allows for better root development and fulfillment of any chilling requirement for flowering (USDA). Extreme heat can result in reduced productivity and can restrict seedling establishment. Conversely, excessive soil moisture in the summer can delay flowering, restrict seed dispersal and can potentially cause bulbs to rot in the ground (Beckwith, 2004). Plant bulbs fairly deep and space 6-12” to form a drift in sun in dry to moist but well-drained soil (S. Bastin, personal communication).

Seed and Cutting Propagation Techniques

Sow seeds thinly (PFF, 2006). Seeds benefit from minor soil disturbance in areas adjacent to established plants. Also, late summer burning can promote the vigour of a Camassia quamash population. Mature bulbs can be scored to produce offsets. (Beckwith, 2004). Bulbs are best stored in a dark, cool, dry, well-ventilated place in a potting medium such as dry peat moss. This will keep the bulbs from completely drying out (USDA, 2006).

Additional Information and Photos

For more information and pictures, visit the E-Flora BC website at www.eflora.bc.ca.