Camassia leichtlinii, great camas, is the tallest and showiest of the Pacific Northwest camas species, native to moist meadows, prairies, and streambanks from California through Oregon and Washington. Sturdy spikes of star-shaped flowers open from the bottom up over several weeks in mid-to-late spring, reaching well above the grassy foliage — typically taller and more floriferous per stem than common camas (Camassia quamash), which it often grows alongside in the wild and blooms slightly after. The species includes two well-known garden selections: 'Caerulea', with rich blue-violet flowers, and 'Alba', a creamy white form, both sold widely as bulbs.
It shares common camas's tolerance for heavy, seasonally wet clay soil that would rot most other bulbs, needing consistent moisture from fall through spring and a dry summer dormancy once foliage yellows. Plant corms in fall in full sun to light shade, in drifts for the best naturalistic effect — it self-seeds and multiplies by offset corms over time, gradually filling a rain garden or meadow planting. As with all camas, positively identify corms before any thought of harvesting them for food: death camas (Anticlea elegans) grows in the same habitat, produces similar-looking foliage, and is toxic.
Bacterial Soft Rot
Rhizomes turn mushy and foul-smelling; foliage yellows and pulls away easily at the base. Often follows borer damage or overly wet soil.
Cut away all soft tissue back to firm rhizome, let it dry, and dust the cut with sulfur. Improve drainage and avoid burying rhizomes. Destroy badly infected plants.
Crown Rot
Lower leaves yellow and wilt; the base of the rosette turns brown and soft, sometimes with white fungal threads at the soil line. Plants collapse in wet conditions.
Remove and destroy affected plants. Improve drainage and avoid overhead watering. Do not mulch directly against the crown. Space plants for airflow and avoid replanting in the same wet spot.