Camassia leichtlinii ‘Alba’

WHITE CAMAS

Camassia leichtlinii ‘Alba’
WHITE CAMAS

Camassia leichtlinii ‘Alba’ is a stunner.

Rarely seen white form

This is the rarer white form of the more frequently seen blue form.

Gorgeous & impressive cream-ivory spires

The White Camas produces tall spires of creamy-ivory stars.
So very impressive with each star flower up to 7.5cm across, and up to 80 flowers packed on each stem.
Blooms open sequentially from bottom to top, on naked, stout stems rising above the low foliage clump.
So each spire is in bloom for a long time.

Prolific blooming to cover a gap

Camassia leichtlinii ‘Alba’ blooms prolifically during late spring and early summer.
So it draws all eyes in that gap in the garden year, when the spring blossoms have finished, but the summer flowers are still too young.

Striking cut flowers

Plus White Camas stems cut beautifully to fill a large vase with spectacular flowers.
The architectural strap shaped leaves are up to 60cm long, while flower stems tower up to 75-90cm. high.

Easy to grow even with dry summers

Plant Camassia leichtlinii ‘Alba’ in full sun to part shade.
It is actually a hardy, bulbous perennial.
And therefore perfect for gardeners who have limited water over summer.

Water-wise plant

Because Camassia grows and flowers prolifically in spring and early summer when it does need moisture, but then it is perfectly happy to dry off during summer, as the bulbous crowns head into dormancy.

Can cope with clay

These bulbous perennials enjoy soil that is well drained over summer, and resent being waterlogged at any time. Though they are happy in clay based soils, as long as they have drainage with gravel and humus.

Very frost hardy

Camassia are frost hardy down to at least -10C approx.

Resistant to rabbits & deer

Fortunately the dreaded rabbits and deer do not enjoy Camassia foliage or bulbs, so tend to leave them well alone.
Camassia are also rarely if ever troubled by insect pests or plant diseases.

Easy to grow & low maintenance

All in all, Camassia are hardy, easy to grow, and very low maintenance garden treasures.
So much show for so little work.

75-90cm. High spectacular creamy flower spires x 75cm. wide clump of strappy foliage.

SEED SOWING ADVICE:

Sow Camassia leichtlinii ‘Alba’ seeds in a punnet indoors at any cool time of the year.
Late autumn sowing is optimum.
(If you need to store your seeds to sow later, keep them in the fridge till you are ready to sow).

Sowing in a punnet: First sow the seeds in a punnet using good quality seed raising mix.
Then cover the seeds with sieved mix to a depth of 5mm approx.

Thoroughly moisten the punnet by standing it in a shallow water bath and allowing the moisture to percolate up to the surface of the mix from below.

Now continue to keep the sown punnet moist in a well-lit, cool place (not in any direct sunlight).
Temperatures of  4-15°C. are recommended for rapid and optimum germination.
Artificial heat is not needed, and warmer temperatures may in fact inhibit germination.

Seeds germinate in 30 days approx. and seed sprouting is usually staggered.
The staggered germination is a natural trick by the plant to give individual seeds a sporting chance of germinating during favourable conditions.
So patience – do not discard the punnet too quickly – more will come later.

However if the seeds are shy to germinate after 30 days, then they need a period of chilling to break their natural dormancy.

So cling wrap the sown, moist punnet and place in the fridge (not freezer) for 6 weeks.
Then remove from the fridge, unwrap, moisten again and continue to keep moist in the cool, well-lit position (no direct sunlight).

Pot on individual seedlings as they germinate, when they have developed their first true leaf. And grow on until they are of sufficient size to be planted in open garden ground.

Seed Count: 12 seeds per pack approx.
(We always aim to exceed the stated seed count, and give a generous serve).

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