Mountain Deathcamas: A Native Plant You Should Think Twice About Growing
When it comes to native plants, we usually encourage gardeners to embrace local flora. But mountain deathcamas (Zigadenus elegans) is one native species that deserves serious consideration before adding to your garden – and the clue is right there in its common name. This perennial wildflower may be authentically North American, but it comes with some significant safety concerns that every gardener should understand.
What Is Mountain Deathcamas?
Mountain deathcamas is a herbaceous perennial forb that belongs to the lily family. This native wildflower produces grass-like foliage and delicate white to cream-colored flowers arranged in terminal clusters during mid to late summer. Despite its innocent appearance, every part of this plant contains toxic alkaloids that can be deadly to humans, pets, and livestock.
As a perennial, mountain deathcamas grows from underground bulbs and can persist in the landscape for many years once established. The plant typically reaches 1-4 feet in height with a clumping growth habit.
Where Mountain Deathcamas Grows Naturally
This resilient native has one of the most extensive natural ranges of any North American wildflower. Mountain deathcamas is native to Alaska, Canada, and the lower 48 states, thriving in montane and subalpine regions across the continent.
You can find mountain deathcamas growing naturally in: Alberta, British Columbia, Alaska, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Arizona, Ontario, Colorado, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
The Safety Concern: Why This Native Comes with Warnings
Here’s where mountain deathcamas differs from most native plants we recommend: it’s highly toxic. The plant contains several poisonous alkaloids, including zygacine and zygadenine, which can cause:
- Severe gastrointestinal distress
- Difficulty breathing
- Heart problems
- Potentially fatal poisoning in severe cases
Historically, mountain deathcamas has been responsible for livestock poisoning, particularly affecting sheep and cattle grazing in mountain meadows. The plant is especially dangerous because its early spring growth can be mistaken for edible wild onions or other safe plants.
Growing Conditions and Hardiness
If you’re determined to grow mountain deathcamas despite the safety concerns (perhaps for research or educational purposes), it’s surprisingly adaptable. The plant thrives in USDA hardiness zones 3-8 and tolerates a wide range of growing conditions:
- Light: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Well-drained soils, tolerates poor and rocky conditions
- Water: Drought tolerant once established
- Maintenance: Low maintenance, self-seeds readily
Limited Garden Role and Pollinator Value
While mountain deathcamas does attract some pollinators, particularly flies and small bees, its pollinator value is relatively limited compared to other native wildflowers. The plant might fit into naturalized wildflower meadows or specialized native plant collections, but its toxic nature severely limits its practical garden applications.
Should You Plant Mountain Deathcamas?
For most home gardeners, the answer is no. The safety risks simply outweigh the benefits, especially if you have children, pets, or livestock. There are countless other native wildflowers that can provide similar aesthetic appeal without the toxicity concerns.
If you’re specifically interested in native plants with white summer flowers, consider safer alternatives like wild bergamot, native asters, or white wild indigo – all of which offer superior pollinator benefits without the safety risks.
The Bottom Line
Mountain deathcamas serves as an important reminder that native doesn’t always mean safe to grow. While we celebrate the plant’s impressive natural range and adaptation to North American climates, its highly toxic nature makes it unsuitable for most home landscapes. Sometimes the best way to appreciate a native plant is to admire it in its natural habitat rather than bringing it home.
If you encounter mountain deathcamas in the wild, observe and photograph it from a safe distance – and definitely don’t let curious pets or children get too close. Nature has its own reasons for everything, including plants that are beautiful but dangerous.
