Toxicoscordion fremontii (Fremont's Death Camas)

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Toxicoscordion spp.

deathcamas

Melanthiaceae Western and central North America

Attracts Pollinators Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 4–9

Overview

Toxicoscordion spp. is a genus of about eight species of bulb-forming perennials in the family Melanthiaceae, native to meadows, grassland, and open slopes across western and central North America. Once grouped within Zigadenus spp., the death camases grow from a deep, onion-like bulb and send up narrow, grass-like, V-keeled basal leaves in spring. Slender stems 1-3 ft (30-90 cm) tall carry tight to open clusters of small, six-parted, star-shaped flowers in cream, white, or greenish-yellow, each tepal marked with a gland near its base, from late spring into early summer. The plants set capsules and die back to the dormant bulb by midsummer as their habitats dry. Every part is highly toxic, containing zygacine and related alkaloids that poison people, livestock, and pets, and the bulbs have been mistaken for edible camas Camassia spp. and wild onions with fatal results. The flowers are visited by a specialist bee that tolerates the toxins. Plants grow in full sun to light shade in soil that is moist in spring and dry in summer, and need no care once established in a suitable meadow or bank.

Native Range

The genus is native to western and central North America, from western Canada through the United States into Mexico, growing in moist spring meadows, prairies, sagebrush, and open woodland. Several species are common in the Pacific states and the Rocky Mountains.

Suggested Uses

Death camas is grown mainly in native-plant collections, restored prairies, and meadow plantings where its spring flowers suit naturalistic schemes. It is planted for habitat and conservation value rather than as a border ornamental, given its toxicity. The dried seed heads add structure to meadow plantings.

How to Identify

Identify Toxicoscordion spp. by narrow, grass-like, folded basal leaves rising from a deep bulb, topped in late spring by a stem bearing clusters of small, six-tepalled cream to greenish-white flowers. A small gland near the base of each tepal helps confirm the genus. The grass-like leaves resemble those of edible camas and wild onion, but the bulbs lack any onion smell, and all parts are dangerously toxic.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 3'

Width/Spread6" - 1'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~4 weeks

Spring Summer

Flowering comes in late spring and early summer, generally April to July depending on elevation, in dense to loose clusters of small cream to greenish-white star-shaped flowers. The bloom lasts a few weeks while the surrounding meadow is still green. By midsummer the plants have set seed and withered back to the bulb.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

cream, white, greenish-yellow

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

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

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

3-5 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Toxicoscordion spp. grows in full sun to light shade in soil that holds spring moisture but dries through summer, at pH around 5.5-7.5, matching its native meadow and grassland habitats. The bulbs need a dry summer dormancy and rot in soil that stays wet. Plants are grown from seed or offsets and are slow to reach flowering size. Once established they need no routine care and return each spring. Every part is highly toxic to people, livestock, and pets, containing alkaloids that affect the heart and nervous system. Few pests trouble the genus, and grazing animals usually avoid it except on overgrazed range.

Pruning

No pruning is needed. Spent flower stems may be left to set seed or removed, and the foliage is allowed to yellow and die back naturally into summer dormancy. Old growth can be cleared once it has withered.