Topic: Camassia Leichtlinii

[garyp]

Received some of these seeds free with a catalogue. Just wondering if anyone has come across them and how to propagate and grow on. Thanks.

[Gardengirl]

Hi Garyp - I have not heard of this plant so looked it up in my RHS Gardening Encyclopedia- information as follows:

Genus of summer-flowering bulbs, suitable for borders and pond margins.  Frost hardy.  Requires sun or partial shade and deep, moist soil.  Plant bulbs in autumn 10cm deep.  Lies dormant in autumn-winter. Propagate by seed in autumn or by division in late summer.  If seed is not required, cut off stems after flowering.

Hope this helps.

[garyp]

Thanks for that Patricia. Yup thats helpful. I reckon I know why they are giving the seeds free. It sound as though it could be something which takes a long time to propagate from seed.

[kenkew]

The seeds ripen in summer and this is the best time to sow them. (The bulbs take between 3 and 5 years to reach the flowering stage so no wonder they were free!).
Put them in a pot and keep the compo moist. Plant out the seedling bulbs in a nursery bed a year later in Sep/Oct in ground that is heavy and moist at a depth of 3-4" and leave them there until they get a bit over crowded. Remove dead flower heads (unless you want more seeds.)

To propogate; Remove offsets from the main mature bulbs in Sept. Replant right away and these will grow on to flower in about 2/3 years.

[garyp]

thanks for that kenkew. Blimey, they certainly didnt hurt themselves giving those seeds away did they. I'll get back to you in a couple of years!!!

[Palustris]

They are worth the effort, though Gary. I have grown them and C esculenta for a longtime, from seeds nd from bought bulbs. They are a hardy Agapanthus basically.
By the way the American First peoples ate the bulbs of C, esculenta 'Quamash'. so you could grow them in the allotment.

[Mrs Ava]

ooo sounds lovely!  I enjoy growing unusual bulbs from seed, it is such an exciting thrill when they flower, and I have known some flower in their second year, so it isn't always toooo bad.

[garyp]

Thanks for your comments. Its made me confident that it will be worth trying to start these seeds off.

Cheers for now