Flower profile

Small camas

Camassia quamash

Small camas (Camassia quamash) is a flowering plant in the Asparagaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–June across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Small camas is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 3 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in April–June.

8states where USDA records it

3Bloomipedia state lists include it

6,059U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Idaho, Oregon, Washington

Quick look

Camassia quamash, commonly known as camas, kwetlal, small camas, common camas, common camash or quamash, is a perennial herb. It is native to western North America in large areas of southern Canada and the northwestern United States.
From Wikipedia's article Camassia quamash, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Asparagaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 8 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to Oregon, Washington and Idaho. ^NatureServe
In Oregon, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–May. ^iNaturalist
In Washington, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–May. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as blue. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as mid spring. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 2.3 ft. ^{USDA PLANTS}
iNaturalist has 2,188 research-grade sightings of it in Oregon, ranking #77 among the 184 flowers on our Oregon list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 2,072 research-grade sightings of it in Washington, ranking #90 among the 187 flowers on our Washington list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 630 research-grade sightings of it in Idaho, ranking #43 among the 143 flowers on our Idaho list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (4,007 records)

Bloom time in the 3 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it

State	Type	Peak bloom	Sightings*
Oregon	Native	April–May	2,188
Washington	Native	April–May	2,072
Idaho	Native	May–June	630

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: G5 Secure worldwide. ^NatureServe
Oregon: Not listed Not on Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Oregon. ^{OAR 603-073-0070}
Washington: No list Washington has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the Washington Natural Heritage Program's rare plant list isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Washington ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Washington.
Idaho: No list Idaho has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Idaho ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Idaho.
Rare elsewhere: Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: WY (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records small camas in 8 states.

AKMEVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILWIMINYRIMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTCAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.

Oregon counties with USDA records: Baker, Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Coos, Crook, Curry, Douglas, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Hood River, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath, Lake, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Malheur, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, Washington, Wheeler, Yamhill.

Washington counties with USDA records: Adams, Asotin, Chelan, Clallam, Clark, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lewis, Lincoln, Mason, Pacific, Pend Oreille, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Skamania, Spokane, Stevens, Thurston, Walla Walla, Whatcom, Whitman, Yakima.

Idaho counties with USDA records: Ada, Adams, Bannock, Bear Lake, Benewah, Blaine, Boise, Bonner, Butte, Camas, Caribou, Clark, Clearwater, Custer, Elmore, Franklin, Fremont, Gem, Idaho, Kootenai, Latah, Nez Perce, Owyhee, Payette, Shoshone, Twin Falls, Valley, Washington.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Small camas a low shade tolerance, none drought tolerance and high moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 5.7 to 7.0 and winter lows down to -28 °F.

Shade tolerance: Low
Drought tolerance: None
Moisture use: High
Soil textures it is adapted to: coarse, medium, fine
Soil pH range: 5.7 to 7.0
Minimum temperature tolerated: -28 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum): 110
Annual precipitation range: 16 to 55 inches
Minimum root depth: 10 inches
Salinity tolerance: None
Fertility requirement: Medium
Growth rate: Moderate
Lifespan: Moderate
Active growth period: Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed: Brown · Spring to Spring
Can be propagated by: bare root, bulb, container, seed, sprigs
Commercial availability: Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for CAQU2. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 139 counties across 8 states; the most are in Oregon (31), Washington (31), California (29).

Other Camassia on Bloomipedia (2): Atlantic camas, Great camas.

More from the Asparagaceae family (34 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Yuccas, Solomon's plume (false Solomon's seal), Canada mayflower, Blue dicks, Common star-of-Bethlehem, Star-flowered lily-of-the-valley, Chaparral yucca, Mojave yucca.

More Oregon flowers

Solomon's plume (false Solomon's seal)

Maianthemum racemosum

Native

🌼 Blooms in OR: April–June

Western Lily of the Valley

Maianthemum dilatatum

Native

🌼 Blooms in OR: May–June

Great camas

Camassia leichtlinii

Native

🌼 Blooms in OR: April–May

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile CAQU2.
iNaturalist, Camassia quamash: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Camassia quamash (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Oregon: Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070).
Oregon: Oregon noxious weed quarantine, A and B weeds (OAR 603-052-1200).
Washington: Washington State noxious weed list (WAC 16-750-005, -011, -015).
Idaho: Idaho noxious weeds (IDAPA 02.06.09, Section 220).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Camassia quamash (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
Photo: Alejandro Santillana via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized.