Plant Details

Camassia quamash

Quamash, Small camas, Utah small camas, Walpole's small camas

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Camassia quamash.

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Common names

23 names · 14 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Quamash
  • Small camas[1]
  • Utah small camas
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Walpole's small camas
Other languages (13)
Dutch
  • Gewone camassia[1]
  • Indianenbloem
  • Indianenlelie
+2 more namesShow fewer names
  • Prairiekaars
  • Prairielelie
French
  • Camassia
  • camassie camash[1]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Downriver Halkomelem
Finnish
  • sinitähtihyasintti[1]
Japanese
  • ヒナユリ[1]
Nuuchahnulth
  • kʷan̓usmapt[1]
Polish
  • kamasja jadalna[1]
Russian
  • Камассия квамаш[1]
Slovak
  • kamasia jedlá[1]
Swedish
  • ätlig stjärnhyacint[1]
Upriver Halkomelem
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Camassia quamash — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • small camas — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 62220; Camassia quamash.
  • ヒナユリ — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 62220; Camassia quamash.
  • Камассия квамаш — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 62220; Camassia quamash.
  • ätlig stjärnhyacint — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 62220; Camassia quamash.
  • kamasja jadalna — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 62220; Camassia quamash.
  • camassie camash — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 62220; Camassia quamash.
  • 小霞花 — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 62220; Camassia quamash.
  • 小霞花 — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 62220; Camassia quamash.
  • sinitähtihyasintti — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 62220; Camassia quamash.
  • 糠百合 — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 62220; Camassia quamash.
  • kamasia jedlá — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 62220; Camassia quamash.
  • spé:nxʷ — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 62220; Camassia quamash.
  • Gewone camassia — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 62220; Camassia quamash.
  • kʷan̓usmapt — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 62220; Camassia quamash.
  • speenhw — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 62220; Camassia quamash.

General information

Scientific name: Camassia quamash
Accepted name (Kew): Camassia quamash (Pursh) Greene View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Asparagaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Camassia (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Quamash, Small camas, Utah small camas, Walpole's small camas
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.30 m
Spread: 0.20 m
Growth rate: None
Foliage: None

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 3-7
Soil moisture:
Moist
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Partial shade, Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Root
Edibility rating:
(5)
Medicinal rating:
(1)
Functions:
Bee forage

Description

Bulb: raw or cooked. The bulb can reach a diameter of 5 cm. In its raw state, it has a mild, starchy flavor and a sticky texture. Cooked, the bulb is tastier, with a delightful sweet flavor comparable to chestnuts. Moreover, the bulb is highly nutritious and can be slowly fried for a different delicious result. The bulb can also be dried and turned into powder, which can serve as a thickening agent in stews or be mixed with grain flour to make bread or pastries. Additionally, it can be boiled down to molasses, which was once used by indigenous tribes during festive occasions. The bulbs can be harvested year-round, but are best in early summer when the seeds are ripe. These bulbs contain inulin, which dissolves when slowly cooked and transforms into fructose, a sweet sugar.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 15/05
Harvest ends: 30/06

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 271935; name ID 301831; Camassia Lindl.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1174050; name ID 301849; Camassia quamash (Pursh) Greene.

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Camassia quamash

    Taxonomic data from WCVP, version 16.0, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. This shares the Kew WCVP evidence base cited on this page.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 5097046, ID Q93P: Camassia quamash (Pursh) Greene (accepted).

    Source checked on .