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Harvest Brodiaea

Brodiaea elegans

geophyte View on Calscape

Care

Sun

full sun

Water

very low

Soil

well-drained to clay; summer dry

Size

0–1ft tall , 0–0ft wide

Bloom

May-Jul · violet-purple

Foliage

Deciduous

Deer

Resistant

Container

Friendly

Flowers

Prized

Edible

Corms roasted or boiled; traditional Indigenous food

Native Range

California and Oregon in grasslands and meadows

Open clusters of funnel-shaped violet-purple flowers

Easy in meadow or grassland settings; summer dormant; edible corms

Care Guide

Planting

Plant your Harvest Brodiaea corm in full sun during fall, when the soil is naturally drying out after summer. It tolerates clay soil beautifully but also grows well in garden soil with good drainage - the key is avoiding soggy conditions year-round. Space corms about 3-4 inches apart and pair them with other spring bloomers like California Poppy, Lupine, or other geophytes such as wild onion and Mariposa Lily for a naturalistic meadow effect.

After Planting

Water moderately during the first growing season to establish the corm, then transition to very low water by late spring as the plant naturally prefers dry conditions. Once established, Harvest Brodiaea needs almost no supplemental water and will go dormant and disappear entirely after flowering (typically by July) - this is normal deciduous behavior, not a problem. The #1 mistake is overwatering during summer dormancy; let the soil dry out completely and resist the urge to water when the plant has vanished. To expand your planting, dig up mature corms in fall and carefully separate the offset corms that have formed.

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