Blue Camassia Bulbs

Camassia Caerulea Bulbs - Blue Indian Hyacinth

Camassia leichtlenii Caerulea has fabulous blue spring flowers to make your jaw drop. The tapered spires rise up to around 90cm, from lush green strap-like foliage, then the elegant star-shaped flowers begin to open along their length, starting from the bottom and gradually working their way to the tips in an explosion of heavenly lavender-blue. She really is the star of the late-spring border – as well as making a lovely cut flower for vases indoors.

Take a look at some more spring bulb varieties.

Features

• Colour: lavender blue
• Height: 90cm
• Scent: none
• Flowering: April-May
• Bulb size: 14cm

Growing Camassias

Plant your bulbs in autumn or winter, around 10-15cm deep, the pointy end up. They'll look best grown towards the middle of a border as, at 90cm, they're among the tallest of late-spring bulbs – although, happily, they won't need staking. Just let the leaves wither entirely before removing them, and cut back the faded flower spikes in summer. They do well in heavy soils, so clay is fine, in a sunny or semi-shaded spot (the flowers will last longer grown in a little shade). Ideally they like conditions to be damp in winter and spring and dry in summer. If you live in a really chilly spot, mulch well in autumn to protect the bulbs from hard frosts.

Planting Companions 

These flowers make good underplanting of roses and are also very much at home in a damp meadow setting where the bulbs will naturalise and spread – a sea of camassias naturalised in lawn left to grow tall is a fabulous sight. Combine in a naturalistic setting like this with alliums and late-flowering tulips in pale pinks and plum tones. In a border, the lavender blue of this camassia looks wonderful with zesty lime green – think euphorbias and vibrant carex grasses.

Did you know?

Camassias are members of the asparagacea family, and have edible bulbs. They're native plants of western regions of the USA, where they inhabit the mountain meadows. Now that would be a sight worth travelling for!

Camassia leichtlinii Caerulaea bulbs. Plant 10-15cm deep and 20cm apart in rich, moist soil in sun or part shade, pointed end upwards.