Description
Camassia Cusickii
Most Americans do not know how few bulb species are native to North, Central and South America. Most of the ornamental bulbs that we associate with the spring garden came from Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia and China. This is one of the reasons why Camassia Cusickii is so special.
There are 6 species of Camassia. One species is native to South America where it is quite widespread in the countries of Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina. There is a species native to the Midwestern and Southeastern United States and the other four species are all native to the Pacific Northwest from Northern California through British Columbia. Camassia Cusickii is native to northeastern Oregon and central Idaho.
Camassias, for the most part, are very different from other bulbs in that they flourish in heavy clay soils that are consistently moist. In the wild, they can be found near streams, swamp edges and moist meadows. Camassia Cusickii does like drier conditions, but does well in heavy clay soils. The bulbs multiply rapidly and easily form beautiful clumps.
The Pacific Slope camassias were first described by Lewis and Clark in their expeditions to the Pacific Northwest during 1804-1806. The indigenous peoples of that area introduced Lewis and Clark to these bulbs which provided a major portion of the diet of the Pacific Northwest Indians. The camassia bulbs were boiled and/or roasted. When boiled in water, camassia bulbs produce a good tasting molasses which is used on festive occasions by a number of the tribes.
Though described in 1804-1806, camassias were not made available to the public until 1888. The plants became very popular in the Netherlands where for nearly 150 years they have been cultivated and sold throughout Europe, the British Isles and Scandinavia.
Camassia Cusickii is a large plant reaching heights of 30 inches or more. The flower stems produce a spike of strikingly large, shimmering, pale to medium Wisteria-blue florets with bright yellow anthers and whisper green centers. Planted in clusters of 5 bulbs, the plants, when flowering, form a cloud of this magnificent color that floats over the region of your garden where they reside. The florets open sequentially starting from the bottom, so the blossoming experience can last for 4-6 weeks.
We recommend that you plant Camassia Cusickii in clusters of at least 5 bulbs. You should plant these bulbs 8-10 inches deep and 6-8 inches apart. They should be divided every 4-5 years
Bulbs are some of the easiest plants to grow. Fundamentally the process requires four steps.
- Dig a hole.
- Dust the hole with bonemeal.
- Place the bulb in the hole.
- Fill the hole with soil.
There are, however, some additional refinements which help produce even more lavish results and enhance protection from critters.
First, bulbs can and should be planted deeper than the instructions you receive on the package labels. An easy way to remember how deep to plant the bulb is to think of a quarter. If the bulb you are planting has the same diameter as a quarter or less, plant the bulb 4 inches deep. If the bulb is broader than a quarter, plant it 6-10 inches deep. Large bulbs like some alliums, camassias, standard tulips and fritillaries can easily be planted 10 inches deep. As the soil compacts days, weeks and months after planting, it produces a thinner layer of soil on top of the bulb. Planting bulbs deep helps with critter control. Moles, voles, chipmunks and squirrels are lazy little creatures, and they don’t like doing a lot of digging to reach their food.
Second, bonemeal is a must. It is an excellent source of calcium and phosphorus which help the bulbs to form a strong root system and healthy stems. For large bulbs (those bigger than a quarter), use ¼ cup per bulb. For small bulbs, dust the entire surface or hole where the bulbs will reside.
Third, small bulbs should be planted in clusters of 10 or more – 1 inch apart. Large bulbs, like allium, can stand alone, but create a much more pleasing presence in the garden when planted is clusters of 3-5. They should be separated by no more than 4-6 inches.
Fourth, bulbs usually multiply fairly quickly and once crowded will not produce blossoms. Plan to divide your bulbs in mid-summer to fall when the top growth has dried out.
These simple, easy, quick tasks are all that is required to produce a lovely bulb display year after year.
PLEASE NOTE: Camassia bulbs may not do well in pots.
If you live in Hardiness Zones 5 and higher all you need to do is mix some soil. . Check out the soil mix described in detail in our Harvesting History YouTube video. Do not use prepared soil mixes.
The Best Soil Mix for Containers
Always plant bulbs more densely in containers than in the ground. Pots as small as 6-inches in diameter can have a showy presence on a deck, porch or patio. You can use much larger pots and plant several kinds of bulbs.
Fill the pot half full, dust the soil surface with bonemeal, arrange the bulbs on top of the bone meal and fill the pot with the rest of the soil. Dust the surface of the soil with more bonemeal. Water thoroughly, but do not let the pot stand in a saucer of water.
If you live in Hardiness Zones 1-4, you must protect the pots by bringing them into an unheated garage or surrounding them with bales of straw. If you do not do this, the bulbs usually freeze and turn to mush.
Camassias are one of those flowers that will always make you stop and think. In a mature cluster, they really do have the visual effect of a small cloud drifting over your garden. Even the bloom from a single bulb will catch your eye, but it is the memories they inspire us to recall that are their real gifts to each of us.
These bulbs fed nations of indigenous peoples, helped them to survive harsh winters, delighted them with sweet molasses-like syrups for their festivals, greeted them in the spring with meadows of blue clouds. The significant impact of their ornamental beauty was only surpassed by their extraordinarily significant impact as a food and nutrition source.
As an American, I will never pass a garden of blooming Camassias without smiling. Their beauty, vigor and historical significance will never be lost on any who love this country.
