Zigadenus
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- zih-gah-DAY-nus
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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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:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- Zigadenus glaberrimus
- Tags:
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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
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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
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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, 9b, 9a, 10b, 10a, 11b, 11a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Oval
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
