Camassia Scillioides

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Camassia scilloides (C.S. Rafinesque-Schmaltz) V.L. Cory Eastern Camas

(Camassia fraseri, Cyanotris scilloides, Quamasia hyacinthina)

• Also known as Atlantic Camas, Indigo Squill, Meadow Hyacinth, Prairie Hyacinth, or Wild Hyacinth, this perennial bulb is native to the eastern and central portions of North America, including parts of northeast Texas; the genus Camassia J. Lindley (Quamasia) contains about a half dozen species of which all but C. scilloides is native to the northwestern North America; as it's native range may imply, C. scilloides is the best adapted member of the genus to most of our region, being useful in moister soils in USDA hardiness zones 4 to 8a(8b); this species requires moist soils, particularly in winter and spring, when the foliage is actively growing; Eastern Camas can be a bit finicky in requirements to thrive in cultivation in our region; Camassia scilloides is a good example of a summer dormant bulb, with the foliage withering back as the summer's heat approaches returning the following fall to spring depending on how far north or south the plant is grown; plant in sunny to partly sunny exposures. • Foliage of C. scilloides originates as a group of basal linear leaves 8 to 18 (24) long, grass-like, medium to dark green in color and rather floppy; the tulip-like bulbs are dark colored and will develop small conal bulblets from the basal plate to form slow growing colonies; in favorable sites, seedlings may develop and naturalize; overall plant texture is medium; inflorescences resemble open loose Squill or Hyacinth (Hyacinthus relatives) racemes, hence the common names involving hyacinth; individual flowers are blue to blue-violet, rarely white, about ⅝ in diameter with six narrow linear to lanceolate perianth segments in an open bowl or flattened cup-shape; flowers open progressively from the base of the 12 to 18 (24) tall scapose racemes and are effective for a couple of week window in early spring; six yellow stamens surround the pistil. • Although several other members of this genus, including Camassia cusickii S. Watson, Camassia leichtlinii (J.G. Baker) S. Watson, and Camassia quamash (F.T. Pursh) E.L. Greene have even showier inflorescences of white, blue, or violet flowers than C. scilloides, most are poorly adapted to our region and function best in USDA hardiness zones 3 or 4 to 7 where summers are mild; these other species are valuable wildflowers and are frequently cultivated in Northwestern U.S. gardens; Camassia scilloides can be useful in moist portions of perennial borders, near water features, or in rain gardens. • This genus is variously placed in the family Liliaceae or is further segregated into the Asparagaceae, Agavaceae, or Hyacinthaceae depending upon the taxonomic authority; the genus name derives from native American Indian name, kamas or quamash, for plants in this genus, while the specific epithet refers to the resemblance of the inflorescences to distantly related taxa in the Old World genus Scillia L. (Squill); bulbs of some species of Camassia were consumed by native American Indians and reportedly by members of the famous Lewis and Clark expedition; care should be taken as several look-alike bulbs are poisonous.