Prairie Camas Plant Care
Camassia angusta (Engelm. & A.Gray) Blank.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Camassia angusta, the prairie camas or prairie hyacinth, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae. It is native to the central US; Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, and Indiana.
Every 7–14 days
Full sun to part shade
50–80°F
40–70%
At a glance
How do you care for Prairie Camas?
Water Prairie Camas every 7–14 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun to part shade. It prefers temperatures of 50–80°F (10–27°C) and 40–70% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.
What Is the Prairie Camas?
Prairie Camas (Camassia angusta) belongs to the Asparagaceae family within the Camassia genus. Prairie Camas is native to the central US.
Prairie Camas displays an upright, clumping perennial growth habit, reaching up to 2 ft tall with a spread of approximately 0.5 ft. Prairie Camas produces spike-like racemes of star-shaped blue to white flowers.
Leaf size: approximately 12 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Prairie Camas?
Camassia angusta requires watering every 7–14 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–14 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Prairie Camas Need?
Prairie Camas thrives in full sun to part shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to part shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Prairie Camas Prefer?
Camassia angusta grows best at temperatures of 50–80°F. Prairie Camas prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.
Temperature
50–80°F
Humidity
40–70%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Prairie Camas?
Moist, well-draining soil with high organic content. Good drainage is essential for Prairie Camas to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Prairie Camas?
Feed Prairie Camas every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Prairie Camas?
Divide and repot bulbs every 3-4 years. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Prairie Camas?
Prairie Camas can be propagated through seeds, division of bulbs. Similar propagation techniques also apply to cusick's camas plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Prairie Camas Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Prairie Camas, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Prairie Camas?
Prairie Camas is susceptible to slugs, snails. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Prairie Camas Need?
Prairie Camas grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. Prairie Camas is native to the central US. In cooler regions, grow Prairie Camas as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 12a
Keep exploring plants
Prairie Camas is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Camassia genus — compare its care with other Camassia species on PlantoScan.
Camassia is part of the Asparagaceae plant family — browse all Asparagaceae genera and species.
Prairie Camas thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
Related Plant Care Guides
Closely related plants with similar care requirements:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Camassia angusta (Engelm. & A.Gray) Blank., family Asparagaceae (first published in Rep. (Annual) Missouri Bot. Gard. 18: 115 (1907)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Prairie Camas, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 12a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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