Camassia vegetative propagation

[majallison]

I'm wondering if it's possible to propagate named varieties of Camassia by chipping... waiting for natural increase is VERY slow, certainly my experience of the lovely variety 'Electra'. Does anyone have any experience/ suggestions?

[Maggi Young]

Worth a try, Malcolm - it  should work, I think!   Certainly  here  only the  white  C. leichtlinii persists  well, sowing  around  gently.  Other  colours  die out, not  multiplying at all 

[Gail]

I'm wondering if it's possible to propagate named varieties of Camassia by chipping... waiting for natural increase is VERY slow, certainly my experience of the lovely variety 'Electra'. Does anyone have any experience/ suggestions?

No experience but I was wondering that myself. I bought a single bulb of Electra and want lots... Ditto 'John Treasure' although I suspect this is not such a good garden plant. I've just tipped my Electra out as it has died back and it is still only a single bulb so I may experiment with Blue Candle of which I have more first this year...
Would be interested to hear how you get on.

[brianw]

I find C. Electra increases readily in my heavy chalky soil. I bought some from Avon a some years back, and was given a clump 2 years ago and now have 40 or more. A super plant with quite long lasting flowers, much larger than species I have growing elsewhere in the garden. Seemed to attract some metallic coloured beetles this year.

[majallison]

I will have a go at chipping 'Electra'... I've only a couple of bulbs, but I'm curious. I think 'Electra' might be a triploid... it's much larger than any other varieties I've seen & it doesn't seem to set seed...