Camassia leichtlinii subsp. suksdorfii

Synonyms

Camassia leichtlinii var. suksdorfii
Camassia leichtlinii misapplied

Bulbs

Buy this from RHS Plants Shop
Buy online from £8.79 Buy this from Plant Nurseries
4 Suppliers

A deciduous, perennial bulb with long, narrow, erect basal leaves and from late spring into early summer, spikes of purple-blue, star-shaped flowers to around 1.2m tall

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 1–2 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H4

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Asparagaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming, Columnar upright
Potentially harmful: 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
Genus: Camassia are bulbous perennials with narrow, channelled leaves and erect racemes of star-shaped violet-blue or creamy-white flowers in early summer
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: W N America

How to Grow

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

Propagation

Propagate by seed in containers in a cold frame as soon as ripe or remove offsets when dormant in summer - see bulb propagation

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Wildflower meadow
Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Prairie planting
Banks and slopes
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Deadhead faded flower spikes

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free