Camassia leichtlinii subsp. suksdorfii Caerulea

Camassia leichtlinii Caerulea or Camas is a perennial bulbous plant with a bushy habit. This compact plant has a rapid flowering from April to May, the first of the camassias to bloom. However, this flowering is exceptional with spikes of single star-shaped light blue to violet-blue flowers. These spikes, held on floral stems, measure from 10 to 30 cm (4 to 12in) long. The inflorescence occurs from bottom to top. The flowers, with a diameter of 4 cm (2in), are composed of 6 petals that twist as they fade.

The flowers of the Camassia are also beautiful in bouquets. When fully grown, the Camassia reaches a height of 80 to 90 cm (32 to 35in). Its linear leaves are a vibrant green and measure from 20 to 60 cm (8 to 24in) long. They form a clump from which the floral stems emerge. Native to Oregon in the northwest of the United States, the plant is very hardy. It can be found in borders, rock gardens, fields, and rocky gardens, as it is a plant that can grow anywhere. You can cultivate it in a container to place it on a patio or balcony.

Grow it with later flowering perennials that will hide its withered leaves in summer, such as Japanese peonies. It is a vegetable plant that has an edible bulb, eaten by Native American tribes. However, these bulbs are not favoured by rodents, which allows the plant to be among the hardiest bulbous plants like daffodils. The Camassia leichtlinii takes its name from the German Max Leichtlinn.