# great camas (*Camassia leichtlinii*) Great camas is a beautiful flower that blooms in spring. Its star-shaped blue flowers grow in clusters and attract many pollinators like bees and butterflies. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![great camas](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Camassia_leichtliniiCaerulea1abb.UME.jpg&width=800) Photo: Epibase, CC BY 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Camassia_leichtliniiCaerulea1abb.UME.jpg) ## Appearance The great camas has tall, slender stalks topped with spires of star-shaped, six-petaled flowers, typically deep blue to violet. Its long, grass-like leaves emerge from the base. Visually, it stands out with its striking blue fields in spring meadows. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Liliopsida - **Order:** Asparagales - **Family:** Asparagaceae - **Genus:** Camassia ## Interesting facts - Before potatoes, its cooked bulbs were a vital food source for many Indigenous peoples! - Each flower stalk can unfurl up to 80 beautiful star-like blossoms at once! - Indigenous peoples often managed vast camas fields with controlled fire to keep them healthy! - The great camas is related to asparagus and onions, but you only eat its tasty bulb! ## Special abilities - **Energy Storer:** Great camas stores energy in its bulb, which helps it survive harsh winters and grow back strong each spring. - **Seed Sprinter:** Great camas produces many tiny seeds, helping it spread to new areas and ensure its populations thrive. - **Water Whisperer:** Great camas has a deep root system that helps it find water deep in the soil, even during drier periods. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-100 cm - **Spread:** 30-45 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen - **Pollinates:** Western bumblebee (*Bombus occidentalis*) — collects nectar and pollen - **Eats:** [Yellow-bellied marmot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/yellow-bellied-marmot) (*Marmota flaviventris*) — digs up and consumes bulbs - **Eats:** [Mule deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — browses on leaves and shoots ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Cluster Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cluster-flower): Cluster flowers are inflorescences where individual flowers are arranged closely together on a common stem. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Do not eat any wild plants unless you are sure they are safe and have permission from an adult. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify great camas? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is great camas? 30-100 cm ### How wide does great camas spread? 30-45 cm ### How big are the flowers on great camas? 2-5 cm ### When does great camas bloom? Late spring to early summer ### Is great camas edible? Yes ### Is great camas toxic? Mild ### What is great camas's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Bush's Pasture Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bushs-pasture-park) — Oregon, US · Botanical Garden - [Mount Pisgah Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mount-pisgah-arboretum) — Oregon, US · Botanical Garden - [Ebertpark (Ludwigshafen am Rhein)](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ebertpark-ludwigshafen-am-rhein) — Rheinland-Pfalz, DE · Park [View all places to see great camas](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/great-camas) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Great Camas: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-camas)