The most infamous species, found in U S from Tennessee west to Texas and Kansas on prairies and in open woodland. Flowers in the spring.
Introduced in 1883.
Entire plant contains a toxic alkaloid that can be fatal to livestock. Causes vomiting, breathing difficulty, and coma in humans.
You'd be well-advised to grow something else!

Reply to this comment

I checked with some plant resources that are pretty reliable and they list Zigadenus nuttallii as being a U.S. native plant, so don't think it was introduced. Toxic, yes....quite toxic! I came to know this plant accidentally. It's not common in Texas at all. So when I was rescuing another kind of flowering plants near a construction site that had similar bulbs and leaves, I inadvertently dug up this plant. Later on....surprise, not quite the blooms on this one I expected. Pretty blooms, but yes, this should be avoided by farmers, ranchers and any anyone else who may not realize it's very toxic. I read somewhere that native american people used to remove these plants when they spotted them anywhere near the edible blue camas (camassia), which they often ate.

Reply to this comment