About
Camassia cusickii 'Zwanenburg' is a perennial bulb that produces star-shaped, deep blue blooms atop tall, slender stems from late spring into early summer.
About the genus
Camassia is a group of bulbous perennials characterized by slender, channelled foliage and upright clusters of star-shaped flowers that range in color from violet-blue to creamy-white, typically blooming in early summer.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
- Aspect
- East-facing, South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Exposed, Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H4
Plant details
- Plant type
- Bulbs
- Habit
- Clump forming, Columnar upright
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 0.5-1 metres
- Spread
- 0-0.1 metre
- Time to full height
- 1 year
- Suggested uses
- Wildflower meadow, Coastal, Cottage and informal garden, Prairie planting
- Toxicity
- Ornamental bulbs - not to be eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Ornamental bulbs - not to be eaten - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in moist but well-drained soil in sun or partial shade. Avoid waterlogged ground. Mulch in winter where prolonged hard frosts occur. May have the potential to become a nuisance due to prolific self-seeding if not managed well This plant was part of the RHS Camassia (quamash) trial 2024-2026
- Pruning
- No pruning required. Remove withered flower stalks and leaves.
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed sown in containers in a cold frame as soon as ripe. Bulb propagation by removing offsetts when dormant in summer.
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free