Common Camas

Common camas is a perennial bulb native to moist meadows, prairies, and open woodlands of western North America, especially abundant in the Pacific Northwest. It grows 1–2 feet tall, producing slender, grasslike leaves and striking spikes of star-shaped, blue to violet flowers that bloom in late spring. After flowering, the foliage dies back as soils dry in summer. Ecologically, common camas provides nectar for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Its bulbs were historically a vital staple food for many native peoples who carefully managed camas meadows through harvest and controlled burning. Today, it remains a culturally and ecologically significant species in prairie restoration and conservation. During spring, camas can form large swaths of azure blooms in oak woodlands and wet prairies.