Common

Camassia quamash and leichtlinii

Camas is a beautiful perennial native to the Pacific Northwest (and also grows in Interior BC), prized for its striking purplish-blue flower spikes and rich cultural history. This hardy plant thrives in naturalised meadows or cultivated gardens, adding vibrant colour and ecological benefits to your landscape. The edible bulbs, rich in the complex carbohydrate inulin, have been an important food source and cultivated by First Peoples in British Columbia and beyond. Preparation for eating the bulbs should be carefully researched before consuming. While camas takes 4-6 years to fully establish, its longevity and beauty make it well worth the wait.

Tips for planting out native seeds:

1. Sow your seed in the Fall, as Nature would. If you don’t want to be patient, then putting your seeds in some damp soil in the fridge for 4-6 weeks can also help germination as they benefit from a cold period.
   
2. While there are technical tips that can be followed for each native species, we find generally good success by sowing seeds in a pot of sterilized potting soil in early Fall, and sinking the pot or tray into the ground in your garden where it can stay for 1-3 years.
   
3. Cover your seeding tray/pot with a fine wire mesh to keep out mice, squirrels, rabbits, cats and other critters who may want to nibble seedlings or dig up the nice potting soil.
   
4. When seedlings emerge in the Spring, prick them gently out with a fork once they have two sets of leaves (this indicates good root development so they survive transplanting better), then transplant them to their final location and water in well.
   
5. Leave the pot in place, and over the next couple of years it’s easy to continue pricking out new seedlings to transplant as they emerge.

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