Death Camas Plant Care
Toxicoscordion exaltatum (Eastw.) A.Heller
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Toxicoscordion exaltatum the giant deathcamas, is a North American flowering plant in the genus Toxicoscordion, reputed to be deadly poisonous. It is native to California, Oregon, and Nevada, where it can be found in the Sierra Nevada foothills.
Every 7–10 days
Full sun to partial shade
50–80°F
40–60%
At a glance
How do you care for Death Camas?
Water Death Camas every 7–10 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun to partial shade. It prefers temperatures of 50–80°F (10–27°C) and 40–60% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season. It is reported as toxic to pets, so keep it out of reach of pets.
Where Is the Death Camas Native To?
What Is the Death Camas?
Death Camas (Toxicoscordion exaltatum) belongs to the Melanthiaceae family within the Toxicoscordion genus. Death Camas is native to California, Oregon, and Nevada. Death Camas is also known as Tall Camas, Meadow Death Camas.
Death Camas displays an upright, clumping perennial growth habit, reaching up to 2 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1.5 ft. Death Camas produces small, bell-shaped flowers in clusters.
Leaf size: approximately 6 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Death Camas?
Toxicoscordion exaltatum requires watering every 7–10 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–10 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Death Camas Need?
Death Camas thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Death Camas Prefer?
Toxicoscordion exaltatum grows best at temperatures of 50–80°F. Death Camas prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.
Temperature
50–80°F
Humidity
40–60%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Death Camas?
Well-draining sandy soil with organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Death Camas to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Death Camas?
Feed Death Camas every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Death Camas?
Repot every 2-3 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Death Camas?
Death Camas can be propagated through seeds, division of bulbs. Similar propagation techniques also apply to shortbract death camas plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Death Camas Toxic to Pets and Children?
Toxic (caution)
Reported as toxic in our plant data. Not verified by the ASPCA.
Toxic to humans and pets if ingested
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Death Camas?
Death Camas is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, thrips. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Death Camas Need?
Death Camas grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. Death Camas is native to California, Oregon, and Nevada. In cooler regions, grow Death Camas as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 12a
Keep exploring plants
Death Camas is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Toxicoscordion genus — compare its care with other Toxicoscordion species on PlantoScan.
Toxicoscordion is part of the Melanthiaceae plant family — browse all Melanthiaceae genera and species.
Death Camas thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
Related Plant Care Guides
Closely related plants with similar care requirements:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Toxicoscordion exaltatum (Eastw.) A.Heller, family Melanthiaceae (first published in Muhlenbergia 6: 83 (1910)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Death Camas is reported as toxic to pets in our plant data (not verified by the ASPCA), so treat it with caution. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 12a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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