Seasonal Wild Flowers

Latin name

Camassia quamash

Other names

Camas, Bear’s Grass, Wild Hyacinth, Common

Quamash

Family

Asparagaceae

Flowering season

April to June

English distribution

It is thinly scattered throughout the country

For a map see the BSBI online Atlas for:

Common Camash

Habitat

It is a neophyte introduced from North America. In its 

native habitat it formed extensive Camas prairies and 

was an important source of food for native Americans

[see Wikipedia article].

It is widely planted in UK gardens in borders and

for naturalisation in damp wildlife meadows.

It is occasionally found in the wild.

Description

Common Camash is a clump-forming, bulbous, herb

growing up to 80cm.

Flowers are on pedicels on unbranched stems [racemes].

They are star-shaped, up to 2.5cm acrossand  with 6 blue

petalloid tepals.

There are 6 lomg stamens with pale flue filaments and 

yellow anthers.

The ovary is oval and yellow. The style is long and the

same colour as the stamen filaments. There

are 3 small stigmas.

Fruits are capsules.

Leaves are up to 60cm and grooved.