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Zigadenus is often confused with:
Allium schoenoprasum Allium schoenoprasum
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Tephrosia virginiana Tephrosia virginiana
Apocynum cannabinum Apocynum cannabinum leaves
Euonymus fortunei 'Colorata' Form

Zigadenus

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
zih-gah-DAY-nus
This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Zigadenus is a genus of flowering plants now containing only one species, Zigadenus glaberrimus, the sandbog death camas, is found growing in pine bogs, savannas and sandy pinelands in the US states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina.  Death camas has several steroidal alkaloids similar to those found in Veratrum (false hellebore). The bulb and mature leaves are most toxic. The alkaloids have potent hypotensive activity. All parts of the Mountain Death Camas plant are poisonous from alkaloids more toxic than strychnine and can sicken livestock. Plants over-winter as a bulb that is very similar to the wild onion

Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#poisonous
 
Zigadenus spp.
Zigadenus glaberrimus
Zigadenus glaberrimus
Zigadenus glaberrimus
Zigadenus glaberrimus
Zigadenus glaberrimus
Zigadenus glaberrimus
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#poisonous
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Zigadenus
    Family:
    Melanthiaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    North America
    Distribution:
    Meadow deathcamas is adapted to sandy to rocky soils in areas receiving 12 to 20 inches annual precipitation
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Attracts Pollinators
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Bulb
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Poisonous
    Wildflower
    Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Moist
    Usda Plant Hardiness Zone:
    8b, 8a, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Oval
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Cream/Tan
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Corymb
    Panicle
    Raceme
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Bell
    Flower Petals:
    6 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Smooth
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Linear
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    basal, slender and grass-like
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Form:
    Straight
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Meadow
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Pollinator Garden
    Rain Garden
    Water Garden
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Pollinators
    Problems:
    Poisonous
  • Poison:
    Poison Severity:
    High
    Poison Symptoms:
    Excessive salivation, vomiting. Muscular weakness, tremors, ataxia and prostration occur. Convulsions, coma and death.
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Alkaloids such as zygacine
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Flowers
    Fruits
    Roots
    Seeds
    Stems