Camassia (Camassia) is a bulbous flowering perennial belonging to the Liliaceae family. Under natural conditions, the flower grows in the United States, Canada, where it takes refuge on the vegetative mountain slopes or on the vast steppe plains with a humid spring and dry summer climate.
The amazing beauty of the flower attracts many breeders. Camassia does not require much maintenance. However, in our latitudes, the plant is considered exotic and is grown very rarely.
Description of camassia flower
The diameter of one bulb does not exceed 5 cm. The skin consists of scaly plates. The length of the stems reaches 20-100 cm. The leaves originate from the basal rosette and have a rich green color with a bluish tinge. The flowers resemble the shape of stars. They form spikelet inflorescences. The species of camassia grown by gardeners are characterized by a varied palette of colors. Among the varieties, there are white, blue, milky and lilac tones.
The flowering of camassia varieties growing in the middle climatic zone begins in late spring, therefore this bulbous flower belongs to late-flowering perennials. Star-shaped buds, like lilies, gather in fragrant brushes.
Planting camassia in the open field
Growing from seeds
To grow a camassia plant on the site, use seeds or divide the bulbs. The most favorable time for sowing seeds is the end of the summer season. The flowerbed is plowed by mixing the soil with peat or rotted organic fertilizer at the rate of 4 kg per square meter of land.
Healthy seedlings will not appear from seeds without stratification. The stratification period must last for at least five months. For the best result, gardeners recommend doing winter sowing. In the middle of autumn, the flower bed is dug up and narrow shallow grooves are organized, where the seeds are poured. When the seedlings show their heads, they are thinned out so that the distance between individual shoots is 30 cm.
Seedlings of camassia
To breed good strong Kamassia seedlings, the seeds are prepared in advance. They are sprinkled with wet sand and stored in the refrigerator, wrapped in a bag until spring arrives. During this time, the material, as it follows, will harden, which in the future will have a positive effect on germination. Sowing activities start at the beginning of March.
Camassia has large seeds. One pot will fit 2-3 achenes, it is no longer needed, otherwise you will have to spend time later on picking. The seed is deepened by no more than 1 cm. The flowerbed with seedlings is watered abundantly, trying to ensure that excess water drains from the pan.
In the process of growth and development, plants are watered moderately. It is advisable to keep the pots under diffused light, then the seedlings will grow evenly, without stretching to the top.Repeated feeding with mineral compositions used for flower perennials will only benefit. The grown seedlings need to be hardened before they go into the open ground. The planting of matured Kamassia seedlings is carried out on the site by the transshipment method in warm weather, keeping the interval from one bush to another 30 cm. A flower planted from a seed begins to bloom in five years.
Bulb reproduction
The bulbs also produce quite decent seedlings with a developed root system. In the third year after planting, the mother bulb is overgrown with 5 to 8 daughter bulbs. After flowering is complete, the nests are dug up and stored in a darkened room with access to air at room temperature. To prevent the Camassia bulbs from drying out, they are separated just before they are planted in the ground. To prevent infection and infection, the material is disinfected with a potassium permanganate solution.
The seeding depth for a loose substrate is about 15 cm, for a heavy one - no more than 10 cm. Planting will look more decorative if you place the bulbs in groups in a flower bed.
Caring for camassia in the garden
Planting and caring for camassia in the garden is not difficult. A lighted corner in the garden or a place located in a light partial shade is ideal for laying out a flower bed. In the shade, the peduncles stretch out and become lush, and the flowers stay on the stems longer.
The soil
It is better to select the soil for growing camassia in a moist, loamy with a fertile environment, then the plants will be attractive and slender.
Watering
Without the flow of natural rain moisture, the site is periodically watered, avoiding waterlogging. Otherwise, the rotting process will start, and the bulb will soon die.
Top dressing
The nutrient-deprived soil is fertilized several times during the season. The first time in the spring when the leaves appear, the second - when the peduncles are formed. The usual complexes of minerals for flowering perennials are suitable. The soil is loosened from time to time and weeds are removed.
Wintering
Camassia is resistant to cold. Wintering of this bulbous perennial occurs without problems. Additional shelter for the flower bed is allowed not to be organized. At first, young seedlings are simply mulched with dry foliage or a thin layer of peat.
Diseases and pests of camassia
Camassia can resist many pests. Cases of fungal infection leading to the development of putrefactive foci on the scales of the bulbs are rarely observed. As a preventive measure, planting material is thoroughly etched before being sent into the ground. Weakly infected bulbs can be salvaged. They are dug up, the diseased areas are cut off, and the place of the cut is treated with a fungicidal preparation.
One of the most dangerous insects that pose a threat to the root bulb is a tick. Traces of damage appear in the form of deformation of leaf blades, white spotted plaque, mold and rot. The leaves curl and the bulbs shrink.
Infected nests must be quickly collected and incinerated. The planting site is then sprayed with insecticides or treated with a solution of nettle leaves. To prepare the solution, pour fresh nettle with boiling water and let it brew for 5 days. The concentrate is diluted with water at a ratio of 1:10. For prevention, it does not hurt to disinfect the bulbs in hot water before planting them in the soil.
Slugs that feast on green vegetation will have to be collected by hand or laid out on the site of traps and baits
Types and varieties of camassia with photos
The genus of Camassia, small in number, includes only 6 species. Cultural species include:
Camassia leichtlinii
Most gardeners are familiar with this type of camassia. In nature, the plant lives in an area dominated by a clay substrate and mild climatic weather. We are talking mainly about the territory of the United States.The main shoot, bearing peduncles, is strong and powerful, can reach a height of about 1.4 m. The inflorescence consists of many corollas, the diameter of which does not exceed 5 cm. The color of the flower is blue, and purple specimens also predominate. A perennial is able to grow in one place from 4 to 5 years, retaining its decorative effect.
The most famous varieties of Camassia Leuchtlin:
- coerulea with bright blue corollas;
- alba is a variety with white flowers;
- semiplena - creamy terry inflorescences;
- Soft pink - pale pink brushes, like stars, adorn flower stalks;
- Sacajawea is a rare variety with white-bordered leaves and lovely creamy white flowers.
Camassia cusickii
The height of the bushes under usual conditions is no more than 80 cm, however, there are also undersized specimens, in which the longest stem barely reaches 40 cm. The loose, open corollas of this variety are painted in a pale blue color. They are woven into lush inflorescences. The wild perennial prefers to climb the mountain slopes overlooking the sea. It is recommended to divide the mother bulb at least once every few years, because the root nests grow rapidly and pull vital juices and nutrients from the bush.
The variety Zwanenburg, bred by breeders from the Netherlands, deserves attention. The plant is distinguished by massive blue corollas.
Camassia quamash or edible (Camassia quamash syn. Camassia Esculenta)
The flower is of medium height, the inflorescence contains 30-40 corollas. The diameter of each of them is about 4 cm. The variety is presented in blue and pale purple shades, occasionally white.
Of the varieties, mention should be made of:
- Blue Melody - deep blue corollas with golden stamens and leaves, the ends of which are edged in white;
- Orion - variety height 80 cm, inflorescences of a heavenly tone.
Camassia in landscape design
As soon as the plant fades, all the ground parts also end their vital processes. At the beginning of August, the flower bed will be empty, so it is better to take care of what flowers will fill the area later.
Cumassia is grown, taking into account the height of the shoots and the color of the variety. Flower species belonging to the group of tall perennials look favorably in the center of a flower bed or as a hedge. Plants in the garden look no less attractive if they are planted taking into account the increase. Then the flowers will not close the neighboring plantings. Lower varieties are recommended to be placed in rockeries or planted along the curb. Camassia will be a wonderful decoration for a natural reservoir. The flower is resistant to moisture.
