I’m really not sure why these pretty plants aren’t more widely grown.
Camassis leichtlinii sukedorfii
They produce an elegant 1.2m spire of star-shaped, violet-blue flowers in May, just when tulips are fading and summer flowers haven’t quite got going.
Unlike tulips, and many other bulbs that need dry well-drained soil, these like to grow in damp soil, just what you need if you have heavy, clay soil, although they won’t be happy if the soil is water-logged.
A swathe of Camassia flowers.
They’re often seen growing in grass, but this only works if you can leave them for 4-6 weeks to die down naturally before the grass is cut.
Plant them in autumn, 8cm deep and 20cm apart.
I’m a big fan of spring flowering bulbs, good value, little effort and pretty flowers, find out more about them here, you can buy Camassias here or here .
Happy gardening, Jill
all photos: Jill Anderson.
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