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Zigadenus

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 sand bog death camas, is found growing in pine bogs, savannas and sandy pine lands in the US states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina.  

Growing from thick, twisted rhizomes, it flowers in mid summer to early fall with white to creamy blooms. 

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.

This plant is typically not commercially available, however, its presence in the wild where it can spread into large stands, is quite attractive.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Zigadenus glaberrimus
Tags:
#poisonous#native perennials#herbaceous#herbaceous perennials#native garden#native wildflower#short lifespan#short lived blooms#poisonous to livestock
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Zigadenus glaberrimus
Tags:
#poisonous#native perennials#herbaceous#herbaceous perennials#native garden#native wildflower#short lifespan#short lived blooms#poisonous to livestock
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Zigadenus
    Family:
    Melanthiaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Southeastern USA
    Distribution:
    Meadow deathcamas is adapted from sandy to rocky soils in areas receiving 12 to 20 inches annual precipitation. Native to AL, FL, GA, MS, NC, SC, TX, VA
    Wildlife Value:
    Attracts, bees, butterflies and other pollinators.
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Attracts Pollinators
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Bulb
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Perennial
    Poisonous
    Wildflower
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    Occasionally Wet
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    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 Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Bell
    Star
    Flower Petals:
    6 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    The flowers appear in open panicles. Each of the creamy-white blooms has 6 white tepals, with each tepal having two large yellow-green nectary glands near the base.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant 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 foliage up to 16" long located at the base of the plant.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Form:
    Straight
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
    Stem Description:
    The green stems may have a reddish hue.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Meadow
    Naturalized Area
    Patio
    Slope/Bank
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Rain Garden
    Water Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Small groups
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Problems:
    Poisonous to Humans
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    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
    Leaves
    Roots
    Seeds
    Stems