Camas Lily

Wildflowers Types of Flowers Types of Orchids Buttercup Cat's Ear Columbine Fivespot Indian Paintbrush Poppy

The Camas Lily (Camassia Esculenta) is one of the six petal members of the lily family (Liliaceae).

It is a common perennial wildflower of the Northwest, and it is also known as Common Camas, Blue Camas and Indian Hyacinth.

With the exception of the coldest regions in the United States, Camas Lily are also well suited as garden flowers.

They are late spring bloomers with purple flowers that grow to about eighteen inches. Their bulbs are edible when cooked, and they were a vital part of the diet of native Americans in the Northwest.

© 2005 Patricia A. Michaels