Where the Blue Camas Grows

Blue camas, also known as Quamash or Indian hyacinth, once grew in wild abundance throughout the Pacific NW. Meadows filled with the bright blue, almost purple flowers were said to resemble “lakes of fine clear water.” But when white settlers first came to this region, they plowed under the camas fields and replaced them with acres of wheat or other farm crops. Pigs consumed what the plow couldn’t reach and the “lakes” of blue camas became just a memory.

But blue camas can still be found in the wild. We happened upon this patch while out hiking recently. The plants were blooming profusely in a small meadow nestled among some trees. For close-up shots of this beautiful native wildflower, please check here.

Camas bulbs were once a staple item in the diets of many native tribes living in the western U.S. Baked or slow roasted, they taste very similar to sweet potatoes.

A typical camas roasting pit varied from 2 to 6 feet deep. Gathering rocks and driftwood for the pits was considered men’s work. The women dug up the bulbs, using wooden digging sticks with fire-hardened points and deer antler handles.

The bottom of the pit was lined with fist-sized stones and covered with driftwood which was then set afire. The fire continued to burn until the rocks were very hot. Then the ashes were swept aside, and a layer of leaves and grasses was placed over the rocks. This was topped with a layer of washed camas bulbs, another layer of leaves and grasses, another layer of camas bulbs, and so on until the pit was filled. The Indians then poured water into the pit to create steam and covered the final layer of grasses with soil. The camas bulbs were then left to “bake” for 1-3 days.

Baked camas could be eaten right out of the “oven”. But for winter storage, the cooked bulbs were sun-dried, mashed, shaped into flat loaves, and baked again. Or ground into a coarse black flour which could be used to make porridge or “pancake” batter.

Special warning to any would-be foragers out there: Death camas (Zigadenus venenosus) can be easily mistaken for the more common blue camas variety and is toxic! Be sure of your identification before trying to eat any camas bulb harvested in the wild.