About
Camassia leichtlinii subsp. suksdorfii is a perennial bulb that loses its leaves in the fall. It features elongated, upright basal foliage and produces spikes of star-shaped, purple-blue flowers from late spring through early summer, reaching heights of approximately 1.2 meters.
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, Clay, Loam
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing, East-facing
- Exposure
- Exposed, Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H4
Plant details
- Plant type
- Bulbs
- Habit
- Clump forming, Columnar upright
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 1-1.5 metres
- Spread
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 1-2 years
- Suggested uses
- Wildflower meadow, Coastal, Cottage and informal garden, Prairie planting
- Native to
- W N America
- 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
- Plant bulbs in autumn, 10-15cm deep in fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil. Will grow in sun or partial shade, but does not tolerate waterlogging. Mulch in winter in cold areas. May have the potential to become a nuisance due to prolific self-seeding if not managed well
- Pruning
- Deadhead faded flower spikes
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed in containers in a cold frame as soon as ripe or remove offsets when dormant in summer - see bulb propagation
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free