Howell's camass Plant Care
Camassia howellii S.Watson
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Camassia howellii, commonly known as Howell's camas, is a species of perennial flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae endemic to western Oregon.
Every 7–14 days
Full sun to part shade
50–80°F
40–70%
At a glance
How do you care for Howell's camass?
Water Howell's camass 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.
Where Is the Howell's camass Native To?
What Is the Howell's camass?
Howell's camass (Camassia howellii) belongs to the Asparagaceae family within the Camassia genus. Howell's camass is native to western Oregon. Howell's camass is also known as Wild hyacinth.
Howell's camass displays an upright, clumping perennial growth habit, reaching up to 2 ft tall with a spread of approximately 0.5 ft. Howell's camass produces spike-like racemes of star-shaped blue to white flowers.
Leaf size: approximately 12 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Howell's camass?
Camassia howellii 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 Howell's camass Need?
Howell's camass thrives in full sun to part shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to part shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Howell's camass Prefer?
Camassia howellii grows best at temperatures of 50–80°F. Howell's camass prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.
Temperature
50–80°F
Humidity
40–70%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Howell's camass?
Moist, well-draining soil with high organic content. Good drainage is essential for Howell's camass to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Howell's camass?
Feed Howell's camass 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 Howell's camass?
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 Howell's camass?
Howell's camass can be propagated through seeds, division of bulbs. Similar propagation techniques also apply to prairie camas plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Howell's camass Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Howell's camass, 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 Howell's camass?
Howell's camass 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 Howell's camass Need?
Howell's camass grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. Howell's camass is native to western Oregon. In cooler regions, grow Howell's camass as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 12a
Keep exploring plants
Howell's camass 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.
Howell's camass 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 howellii S.Watson, family Asparagaceae (first published in Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 25: 135 (1890)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Howell's camass, 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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