General

Bulb-forming perennial plant with stems up to 24 inches. All parts of the death camas are toxic, including the pollen and nectar.

Leaves

Narrow and grass-like, grow from the base of the plant to 1 foot long.

Flowers

Whitish or cream-colored bowl-shaped flowers about one-half inch across are arranged in terminal clusters. Petals have one to two yellow to green nectar glands.

Bloom

June through August.

Ecology

Mountain meadows, rocky slopes and forests.

Pollinators

Only one specialist bee, Andrena astragali, utilizes the pollen for provisioning nests.

References

• Zigadenus elegans in the USDA Plant Database
• Zigadenus elegans in the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center plant database
• The paradox of toxic nectar and pollen in death camas (University of Colorado)
• U.S. Forest Service mountain deathcamas plant profile