Anticlea elegans
mountain deathcamas
Overview
Anticlea elegans is a bulb-forming perennial in the false-hellebore family, growing 8-28 inches (20-70 cm) tall from a deep, onion-like bulb. The mostly basal leaves are grass-like, narrow, and folded, 4-12 inches (10-30 cm) long, gray-green and channeled. In summer it sends up an unbranched stalk topped by an open cluster of star-shaped flowers, each about 0.5-0.75 inch (12-19 mm) across, with six creamy white to greenish tepals marked by a heart-shaped green gland near the base. It grows in mountain meadows, moist slopes, rocky openings, and streamsides across much of western and northern North America, from low foothills to alpine elevations. All parts of the plant, especially the bulb, contain toxic steroidal alkaloids that are poisonous to people and livestock if eaten, and the bulb has been mistaken for edible wild onions, though it lacks the onion smell. It spreads slowly by seed and bulb offsets and is grazed only when other forage is scarce. Its toxicity restricts its use to wild settings and specialist native plantings rather than gardens with children or grazing animals.
Native Range
Native to western and northern North America, from Alaska and Canada south through the Rocky Mountains and into Mexico, and east across parts of the northern plains. It grows in mountain meadows, moist slopes, rocky openings, and streamsides from foothills to alpine zones.Suggested Uses
Grown mainly in specialist native plant collections, alpine and rock gardens, and habitat restoration in mountain settings. Because all parts are poisonous, it is placed away from areas used by children, pets, or grazing animals.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height8" - 2'4"
Width/Spread4" - 8"
Reaches mature size in approximately 4 years
Bloom Information
Flowers in summer, generally June through August depending on elevation, with open clusters of greenish-white star-shaped flowers. Bloom comes later at higher elevations and in cool, moist sites. Dry seed capsules follow and split to release flat seeds.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
creamy white to greenishFoliage Description
gray-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight