NB: A note for WordPress Reader users – you need to click on the title of the post again to come out of the reader and go to the post itself. This allows you to see the whole of the top photograph. (Otherwise you may see just a tiny section!)
The star-like flowers of Camassia leichtlinii are a captivating sight in spring. The shape of the individual flowers is elegant and attractive, but it’s the colouring that really appeals to me. The violet and blue of the petals is my favourite combination of colours, so of course I love them!
This particular cultivar is ‘Caerulea’, probably the most easily available one, and frequently available as packs of bulbs in garden centres. There are cultivars in pink and white too, but while I might try to find a space to grow a few of the white ones, it’s most likely to be the lovely blue that I add to in future.
I didn’t expect great success from the camassia bulbs, because they’re said to prefer a reasonably moist soil (but well-enough drained to prevent the bulbs from rotting). However, they have increased well, probably because I have kept them well-watered while they’re growing and they don’t seem to mind drought once the foliage has died down in summer. From the original pack of three bulbs planted in this patch a couple of years ago, there are this year 21 flower stems. So it appears that there must now be a few offsets big enough to produce flowers. (I always deadhead to allow the plants to put more of their energies into the bulbs.)
It has been interesting to see that most of the websites that sell camassia bulbs in the UK say they flower from May to June. Here they have always flowered earlier than that and I see that most of my camassia photographs date from the third week of April. This year they were in flower early in April and are already going over. I wonder if this is part of the effects of global warming. (Our last few springs have been very warm.) It’s a little sad to see, because the extra heat we are getting seems to make the flowers go over more quickly. I’d love to have these beautiful flowers around for just a bit longer!
Ann Mackay: Inspired by Nature 
I’m tempted to call the color indigo. Sorry your Camassia plants aren’t lasting as long as they used to. That genus name is based on a word from an indigenous language in the Pacific northwest of the United States. The English words camas(s) and quamash, from the same indigenous source, are also used for plants in this genus.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think the flowers might last a little longer if they were in a spot with some shade. it’s very noticeable that our daffodils also don’t last as long when we have a very warm spring – I guess we’ll just have to get used to it!
LikeLike
Our native species, Camassia scilloides or Atlantic Camas, lies at the western boundary of its range in Texas. It isn’t in my area, but it is listed for Steve’s; I looked to see if he’d photographed the Texas species, but didn’t find it on his blog.
I noticed that C. scilloides tends to be lavender, although truer blues or whites appear. I know almost nothing about how plant breeders create their variants, but I’d be surprised if the Atlantic camas isn’t in your favorite’s background.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree…there is a lot of similarity in appearance. I think plants just sometimes throw up their own variants. I just noticed that the purple-flowered verbascum in my garden has produced a white-flowered seedling. Apparently this is something they do and I may get others in shades of pink too. Here’s hoping! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I see white bluebonnets and white bluebells (our version) every year. They’re never predictable, that’s for sure!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That must be part of the pleasure of seeing them, Linda!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wonder if mine have flowered whilst I have been away? There were some signs of buds on the white ones, but nothing but leaves on the blues.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mine have flowered early this year and are going over already. It has been so warm here that flowers aren’t lasting as long as I’d hope. (And we need rain!)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love camassias too, such glorious shades of blue. But the flowers are so short lived.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I do wish they lasted longer! Flowering over a longer period might be a more important factor when I’m choosing plants in future…I need to make the most of the space in my garden!
LikeLike