Mountain Death Camas
Anticlea elegans (syn. Zigadenus elegans)
Mountain death camas is a stately North American native wildflower of mountain meadows and prairies, bearing graceful creamy-white star-shaped flowers — and carrying the infamous distinction of being one of the most poisonous plants on the continent.
Melanthiaceae (Trillium family)
Late spring to late summer (May–August), varying by elevation
Symbolism & Meanings
Key Meanings
Perfect For
Color Meanings
Similar flowers: actaeas and dragon arums also share similar meanings.
Cultural Significance
Mountain death camas carries one of the most sobering reputations in North American botany. Its deceptively beautiful white flowers and grass-like leaves — easily mistaken for edible wild onion or blue camas — have historically caused the deaths of Indigenous peoples, early settlers, and countless livestock across the continent. Culturally, it serves as the ultimate reminder that beauty and danger are not mutually exclusive in the natural world. It is a flower of warning, respect, and the profound lesson that nature demands careful observation.Shop Our Floral Collection
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Physical Characteristics
Natural Habitat
Growing Guide
Sunlight
Full sun to partial shade; found in open meadows and forest edges
Water
Moderate to high; naturally found in moist to wet habitats; prefers consistently moist soil
Soil
Moist to wet, Loamy, Clay, Alkaline to neutral, Adaptable
Expert Growing Tips
IMPORTANT: All parts of this plant are highly toxic to humans, livestock, and pets — handle with extreme caution and always wear gloves
Not generally recommended as a garden plant due to its severe toxicity; best left to naturalise in wild meadows
The bulb closely resembles edible wild onion and camas bulbs — never harvest any bulb from the wild without expert identification
If grown in a botanical or educational context, clearly label and isolate from areas accessible to children and animals
Propagate by seed (cold stratification required) or careful bulb division in autumn
Uses & Benefits
Ornamental Uses
- Botanical and native plant collections (specialist use only)
- Educational displays in poison plant gardens
- Naturalized wildflower meadows in appropriate native plant contexts
Traditional Uses
- TOXIC: All parts of the plant contain steroidal alkaloids including zygacine and zygadenine, which are more toxic than strychnine
- Despite its extreme toxicity, some Indigenous peoples of the Rocky Mountain region used extremely diluted topical preparations as a pain-relieving rub — a practice not to be replicated without specialist knowledge
- The Ramah Navajo traditionally used a cold infusion as a topical lotion; the Thompson people of British Columbia used a baked root salve for pain relief — both strictly external uses only
- Ingestion of any part can be fatal; no safe medicinal use exists for non-specialists
Disclaimer: Information provided is for educational purposes only. Consult healthcare professionals before using any plant medicinally.
Further Reading
Frequently Asked Questions about the Mountain Death Camas
Why is mountain death camas so dangerous?
Mountain death camas (Anticlea elegans) is toxic because all parts of the plant — flowers, leaves, stems, and especially the bulb — contain steroidal alkaloids including zygacine, which disrupts nerve and heart function. The bulb is particularly dangerous because it closely resembles the edible bulbs of wild onion and blue camas, leading to accidental poisoning.
How do I tell mountain death camas apart from edible camas?
The key differences are: death camas has creamy-white to greenish-white flowers (edible camas flowers are blue to violet); death camas lacks any onion odor when the bulb is crushed; and each tepal of death camas has a distinctive heart-shaped green gland at its base. When in doubt, never harvest any bulb from the wild — expert identification is essential.
Is mountain death camas toxic to livestock?
Yes, mountain death camas is one of the most significant causes of livestock poisoning in western North America, particularly for sheep, cattle, and horses. Livestock may graze on it in early spring before other forage is available. Even small amounts can be fatal.
What does the flower of mountain death camas look like?
The flowers are creamy-white to greenish-yellow, star-shaped, and about half an inch across. Each of the six tepals bears a distinctive heart-shaped green gland near its base — a key identification feature. Flowers are arranged in a branching, elongated cluster (panicle) atop a single erect stem.
Is mountain death camas the same as white death camas?
The names overlap in common usage. "Mountain death camas" most precisely refers to Anticlea elegans (syn. Zigadenus elegans), a widespread Rocky Mountain and Great Plains species. "White camas" or "white death camas" is sometimes applied to the same plant as well as to related species in the broader Melanthiaceae family.
Available Colors
Quick Facts
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