Camassia quamash Quamash (Hyacinthaceae)

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Camassia quamash
Quamash
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The Camassia quamash plant species is found in Western N. America - Washington to California, east to Montana and Utah. It is a member of the Hyacinthaceae family. Common gardeners may know the plant as Quamash. Some home gardeners know the variety as C. esculenta. Lindl.

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

Latin Name:  Camassia quamash
Common Name:  Quamash
Family:  Hyacinthaceae
Author:  (Pursh.)Greene.

Known Hazards:  None known

Mature Height:  0.3   Mature Width:  0.15

Habitat:  Coastal mountain forests and wet meadows inland[60, 62]. Marshy meadows in coniferous forest, to 2300 metres[90].

Propagation Notes: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[134]. The seed can also be sown in a cold frame in spring[134]. It usually germinates in 1 - 6 months at 15°c, but it can be erratic[138]. Sow the seed thinly so that it does not need to be thinned and allow the seedlings to grow on undisturbed for their first year. Give an occasional liquid feed to ensure that the plants do not become nutrient deficient. When the plants are dormant in late summer, pot up the small bulbs putting 2 - 3 bulbs in each pot. Grow them on for another one or two years in a cold frame before planting them out when dormant in late summer. Offsets in late summer. The bulb has to be scored in order to produce offsets.

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Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

The information above has been supplied solely via the hard work and dedication of the team at 'Plants for a Future'.
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