<p>{Family Liliaceae} A bulbous perennial, Camas is a beautiful star-shaped lily with colours ranging from deep violet to light blue, arranged in a 12 in spike. It blooms in late spring. The foliage is linear and long (8 - 20 in). It rapidly forms large clumps and is easily naturalised in grass, provided the soil is moist. The species is highly variable, with recent classification including 8 sub-species.</p><p>Camassias make attractive garden plants, very frost hardy and easily grown in most temperate climates. The seed may take up to five years to flower, but established clumps can be easily divided and spread around to form a beautiful natural cover. It prefers heavy soils with full light to partial shade conditions.</p><p>The edible bulbs of these North American lilies were an important food source for native people, who ate them boiled. They called them 'kamas', 'camas', 'camash' or 'quamash', which was Latinised to 'Camassia'. These bulbs helped to sustain the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition for part oft heir 1804-6 journey. The plants are very long-lasting, and some people are known to have them spring up in their lawn gardens after many years, if they leave the area unmown until summertime, giving them a lovely surprise.</p>
