Flower Library
Camassia
Camassia · Asparagaceae
Camassia is a late spring guest with a grand entrance: slender spikes up to eighty centimetres tall, densely set with star-shaped flowers in cool blue. It bridges the gap between tulip season and summer flowers and fits the current naturalistic-garden trend perfectly. As a cut flower it is available for only a few weeks in May and June — true seasonal stock.
- Season
- May – June
- Vase life
- 6–10 days
- Latin name
- Camassia
- Colors
- Blue, Violet blue, Steel blue, Cream white
Two species dominate the trade: Camassia leichtlinii with tall, even spikes — including the cream-white ‚Alba‘ and the semi-double ‚Semiplena‘ — and the smaller, intensely blue Camassia quamash. For the vase Camassia leichtlinii is the first choice thanks to its stem length and staying power.
The beauty of camassia lies in its mechanics: the star-shaped florets open from the bottom upwards over many days, so the spike literally keeps developing and changing in the vase. When buying, we look for stems on which only the lowest florets are open — that way you take the full flowering period home.
Stylistically camassia is a line flower for the wildflower look: it gives bouquets height and movement without feeling heavy. It harmonises beautifully with lupins, daisies, allium and grasses — everything that looks like a flowering meadow. It also makes a statement as a pure bunch in a tall, slim vase.
A common mistake is the wrong vase: the tall stems need support and topple in shallow vessels. At least half the stem length should sit inside the vase. Simply pluck out the faded lower stars and the spike stays attractive right to the tip.
In the garden, by the way, camassia is one of the best naturalising bulbs for moist meadows and loamy soils where many other bulbs fail. Plant it in autumn and you will have your own cutting stems every May — and the bumblebees love it.
Is Camassia toxic to children and pets?
- Children
- Non-toxic
- Cats
- Non-toxic
- Dogs
- Non-toxic
Camassia is considered non-toxic; its bulbs were even a staple food of the indigenous peoples of North America. We still advise against eating it — in the wild it can be confused with toxic bulbs.
Overview: toxic & non-toxic plants for cats, dogs and children
Care
- 01Cut the stems at an angle and place them in a tall vase with fresh water.
- 02Choose a stable vase that holds at least half the stem length.
- 03Regularly pluck out the faded lower florets — the spike keeps flowering upwards.
- 04Change the water every two days and add a little flower food.
- 05Keep cool and out of direct sun so the spike opens slowly right to the tip.
- 06Buy stems with only a few open florets — they last the longest.
Frequently asked
- How long does camassia last in the vase?
- About six to ten days. Because the star-shaped florets open gradually from the bottom up, the spike keeps changing throughout. Stems bought with only the lowest florets open last the longest.
- When is camassia in season?
- Camassia is a classic gap-filler of late spring: the cutting season runs from May into June, exactly between the end of the tulips and the start of the big summer flowers. Outside those weeks it is practically unobtainable.
- Is camassia toxic to cats and dogs?
- No, camassia is considered non-toxic to cats, dogs and people — the bulbs were once even eaten. That makes it one of the few pet-friendly bulb flowers. Even so, cut flowers should never be part of any animals diet.
- Which flowers pair well with camassia?
- With everything that evokes meadows and naturalistic gardens: lupins, daisies, allium, grasses and delicate umbellifers. Its cool blue is a wonderful calming note between white and pastels — and in a tall vase it also looks superb on its own.