Death Camas makes a captivating and interesting addition to wildflower gardens and natural landscapes. However, as the name suggests, all parts of the plant are fatally toxic, and consideration should be given to the safety of young children, pets, and livestock before incorporating into any landscape.
 
Death Camas (Zygadenus venenosus, Toxicoscordion venenosum) can be found throughout North America, thriving in diverse, open conditions such as meadows, prairies, and open slopes. Uniquely beautiful, upon close inspection the dense, low flower spikes reveal their numerous, elegantly star-shaped flowers ranging in color from white to pale yellow or greenish-yellow. 
 
Bloom typically occurs in late spring or early summer. During this time, the flower clusters rise above the curling basal foliage, creating a charming display of delicate blooms. Like the rest of the plant, the nectar of Death Camas also contains toxic alkaloids, which has led to a specialized relationship with its primary pollinator, the Death Camas Miner Bee (Andrena astragali), possibly the only bee adapted to the plant’s toxins. Occasionally, foolish (or desperate) rodents will mistakenly consume foliage and exposed bulbs with expectedly disastrous results.
 
The primary toxin, known as zygacine, acts on the central nervous system, and ingestion of a single bulb can be coma-inducing or fatal. Death Camas grows in the same habitat as the unrelated but extremely important native food, Camas bulbs (Camassia spp.). Worse still, the bulbs of these species are almost indistinguishable without foliage and flowers, which are only briefly observable. Because of this, Native peoples developed various ways to prevent accidental poisoning, such as marking flowering Death Camas plants with sticks during the spring and removing to the edge of meadows during fall harvest. It is still possible to observe Death Camas growing only along the borders of preserved Camas meadows historically cultivated by local tribes. 
 
Death Camas thrives in well-drained soils, including sandy, loamy, or rocky soils, and is adapted to dry to seasonally damp conditions. Seeds can be surface sown in bulb trays or in place from fall to late winter, and covered with sand or fine soil. Plants in their 2nd year and older require dry dormancy through summer and should only be watered once or twice per month until fall rains return. Seedlings are small, singular, grass-like leaves that require 3-4 years to reach blooming maturity.  With proper conditions and care, Death Camas will establish itself and form perennial clumps, continuing to bloom and grace the landscape for years to come.