Great Camas
November 2, 2022
By Adam Huggins
Great Camas
Camassia leichtlinii
- Hul’qumi’num Name: speenhw
- Description: Perennial herb to 70 cm tall, from a starchy, bulb-like corm. Leaves are grass-like, flowers are pale to deep blue and purple, followed by papery capsules.
- Habitat: Grassy meadows, ocean bluffs, and Garry Oak-associated ecosystems.
- Harvest: Harvest mature corms when the seed pods are dry.
- Edibility: Camas corms are full of a starch called inulin, and are traditionally cooked overnight in steaming pits.
- Fun Fact: Camas was and is a staple food of Coast Salish peoples. To harvest, it’s best to grow it yourself for several years until it is ready.
