Share

Native Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

Search native plant database:
Name:    
Family:    

Zigadenus venenosus (Meadow death camas)
Bransford, W.D. and Dolphia

Zigadenus venenosus S. Wats.

Meadow death camas, Death camas

Liliaceae (Lily Family)

USDA Symbol: zive

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

The highly poisonous Meadow Deathcamas (Zigadenus venenosus) grows throughout most of the western United States. It has petal-like segments about 1/4 of an inch (6 mm) long, the inner 3 slightly longer and with a short stalk at the base, and stamens about as long as the segments.

The Meadow Deathcamas is a member of the lily family (family Liliaceae). Lilies are mostly perennial herbs from rhizomes, bulbs, or corms, some rather woody and treelike, and often showy flowers in racemes or branched racemes. The family is extremely complex and botanists estimate 250 genera and 4,000-6,000 species. Many, including tulips and day lilies, are handsome ornamentals. Asparagus, Sarsaparilla, onions, and the medicinally useful Aloe are from the family. A few species are poisonous.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Fruit:
Size Class: 0-1 ft. , 1-3 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun , Jul

Distribution

USA: CA , CO , ID , MT , ND , NE , NM , NV , OR , SD , UT , WA , WY
Canada: AB , SK
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N)

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Bibliography

Bibref 946 - Gardening with Prairie Plants: How to Create Beautiful Native Landscapes (2002) Wasowski, Sally

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Zigadenus venenosus in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Zigadenus venenosus in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Zigadenus venenosus

Metadata

Record Modified: 2012-10-15
Research By: TWC Staff

Go back