Species Mountain Death Camas
white flowers with yellow-green center, light-orange anthers, white ovaries along off-white buds and yellow-green stems

Mountain Death Camas

Anticlea elegans

Mountain Death Camas (Anticlea elegans) is a short-lived perennial flower native to the Pacific Northwest of North America that blooms in the early summer. Its name comes from its palatable yet poisonous nature. The species produces short, grass-like stems with up to forty star-shaped white flowers atop each stem. These flowers have six petals and are pollinated primarily by bees. The species is found in areas with moderate moisture, as it prefers mesic sites. Its presence is an indicator of good habitat; because of its toxicity it is rarely consumed by grazing animals.

Watering:

Average

Hardiness Zone:

3

Flowers:

Yellow Flowers

Sun:

Sun

Soil:

Clay, Sand, Loam

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green,yellow

Growth Rate:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

watering

For sweetgrass, it is best to water frequently but lightly. Water when the top layer of soil is dry, which is usually every 7–10 days. When you water, give the plant just enough to moisten the soil, but avoid overwatering. Generally speaking, sweetgrass should be given about 1 inch of water per week.

sunlight

Sweetgrass (Anthoxanthum nitens) requires full sun throughout the day to thrive. It does best when it receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day, with 8 hours or more being ideal. Additionally, Sweetgrass benefits from indirect light during the cooler parts of the day, such as the early morning and the late afternoon. This helps ensure that the plant receives all the light it needs in order for photosynthesis to occur.

pruning

Sweetgrass (Anthoxanthum nitens) should be pruned in late spring or early summer, when the plant is actively growing. Regular pruning of sweetgrass is important for maintaining its shape and keeping it healthy, as well as to remove any dead or diseased material. A good rule of thumb is to prune back any dead or dying leaves, spend and around 20-25% of the overall foliage. This amount of foliage removal will allow light to flow into the center of the plant, encouraging dense new growth.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Harvest Fruit

⚠️ Perenual and its members cannot be held liable for any health issues that may arise from the information provided on the website or from using any of the plants found on the site. The information provided is intended to be used as general guidelines only.