Great camas Plant Care
Camassia leichtlinii (Baker) S.Watson
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Camassia leichtlinii, the great camas or large camas, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae. This herbaceous perennial is native to western North America in British Columbia, Canada and California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington, in the United States.
Every 7–14 days
Full sun to part shade
50–80°F
40–70%
At a glance
How do you care for Great camas?
Water Great 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.
Where Is the Great camas Native To?
What Is the Great camas?
Great camas (Camassia leichtlinii) belongs to the Asparagaceae family within the Camassia genus. Great camas is native to western North America in British Columbia, Canada and California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington, in the United States. Great camas is also known as Large camas, Wild hyacinth.
Great camas displays an upright, clumping perennial growth habit, reaching up to 2 ft tall with a spread of approximately 0.5 ft. Great camas produces spike-like racemes of star-shaped blue to white flowers.
Leaf size: approximately 12 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Great camas?
Camassia leichtlinii 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 Great camas Need?
Great camas thrives in full sun to part shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to part shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Great camas Prefer?
Camassia leichtlinii grows best at temperatures of 50–80°F. Great camas prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.
Temperature
50–80°F
Humidity
40–70%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Great camas?
Moist, well-draining soil with high organic content. Good drainage is essential for Great camas to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Great camas?
Feed Great 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 Great 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 Great camas?
Great camas 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 Great camas Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Great 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 Great camas?
Great 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 Great camas Need?
Great camas grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. Great camas is native to western North America in British Columbia, Canada and California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington, in the United States. In cooler regions, grow Great camas as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 12a
Keep exploring plants
Great 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.
Great 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 leichtlinii (Baker) S.Watson, family Asparagaceae (first published in Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 20: 376 (1885)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Great 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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