librarian2003 (librarian2003) wrote in weagardening, @ 2009-01-09 18:07:00 |
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Week 10 - Plant of the Week - Camassia
Our plant of the week for week 10 is Camassia leichtlinii.
Here's the handout:
GARDENING FOR PLEASURE
Plant of the week
Camassia leichtlinii
Originally from damp streamside meadowlands in North America, this hardy bulbous perennial is perfect for naturalising in a wildflower meadow. It will happily grow in moist soil in sun or partial shade as long as the soil doesn't become waterlogged. Take advantage of its brief flowering season to brighten up a border before summer perennials take over, or plant in a border that is backed by a tall hedge, where the dark foliage will show the flowers off.
It is in leaf from March to August, in flower from June to July, and the seeds ripen in July.
A very easily grown plant, it succeeds in almost any soil and is tolerant of considerable neglect once it is established. It grows well in heavy clay soils, and prefers a rather heavy loam that has plenty of moisture in spring but does not remain wet over the winter. It dislikes dry soils. It prefers full sun but tolerates partial shade.
A very ornamental plant, there are many named varieties. Plants often self-sow, and it’s a good bee plant. Plants can be naturalized in damp grass, which should not be trimmed until mid to late summer when the bulbs have flowered and the leaves have died down. The bulbs are often not entirely symmetrical or even-sized, and flower at quite a small size. Plant at least 4 inches deep in early autumn and then leave undisturbed. The bulbs should be planted about 6 inches apart.
Camassia leichtlinii alba - creamy white star-shaped flowers form a loose pyramid, at the top of a 36" stem.
Camassia leichtlinii Caerulea - Camassia leichtlinii Caerulea has spikes of lavender blue flowers that reach up to 90cm tall in late spring.
Seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. The seed can also be sown in a cold frame in spring. It usually germinates in 1 - 6 months at 15°c, but it can be erratic. Sow the seed thinly so that it does not need to be thinned and allow the seedlings to grow on undisturbed for their first year. Give an occasional liquid feed to ensure that the plants do not become nutrient deficient. When the plants are dormant in late summer, pot up the small bulbs putting 2 - 3 bulbs in each pot. Grow them on for another one or two years in a cold frame before planting them out when dormant in late summer.
Take offsets in late summer. The bulb may need to be scored in order to produce offsets.
Plant the bulb against a background that will allow the pale flowers to stand out. Suitable shrubs include Berberis thunbergii 'Rose Glow' (a good foil because the leaves are purple, splashed pink and white); Photinia x fraseri 'Red Robin' (blood-red young leaves); and Choisya ternata (Mexican orange blossom).
In borders, camassias associate well, in light shade, with forget-me-nots, Dicentra spectabilis (bleeding hearts), Lunaria rediviva, Leucojum aestivum (spring snowflake) and Polygonatum x hybridum (Solomon's seal), and in sun with early-flowering geraniums and aquilegias.
If naturalised in a meadow, they look good with buttercups, cowslips and the late-flowering pheasant's eye (Narcissus poeticus var. recurvus).
Jo Hanslip
November 2008
Jo