Bloomipedia
Small camas (Camassia quamash)
Photo: Alejandro Santillana via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized

Flower profile

Small camas

Camassia quamash

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
3of our state lists
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.

  • 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–June. 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 #76 among the 110 flowers on our Oregon list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 2,072 research-grade sightings of it in Washington, ranking #89 among the 110 flowers on our Washington list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 630 research-grade sightings of it in Idaho, ranking #43 among the 109 flowers on our Idaho list. iNaturalist

Small camas gift ideas

Handmade small camas gifts from independent makers.

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When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (4,007 records)
Bloom time in each of our 3 states
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
OregonNativeApril–June2,188
WashingtonNativeApril–May2,072
IdahoNativeApril–June630

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.

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.

More Oregon flowers

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Sources