Fremont's Deathcamas
Toxicoscordion fremontii
- Native to:
- Mexico, United States
ALAN SCHMIERER (www.flickr.com)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Melanthiaceae
- Genus:
- Toxicoscordion
- Species:
- Toxicoscordion fremontii
- USDA Symbol:
- ZIFR
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 60 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- mar,apr,may,jun
- Bloom Colors:
- white, cream, yellow
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Bulb resprouts vigorously after fire; common in fire-prone grasslands and chaparral edges.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- well-drained, rocky or sandy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- prefers open, sunny habitats
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–60 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require cold stratification; may germinate erratically over several weeks. Fall sowing outdoors often effective.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Clean dry seed placed in dry, cold storage following collection. Avoid heat treatment as it decreases germination.
Establishment: Fruits ripen from May through June. Seed can be rapidly collected in large quantities as fruits ripen, brown, and split open. Seed will easily spill from upright, open capsules and can be retained in open fruit capsules for 1 or more weeks after the capsule has split open. Found in Northwestern California, Sacramento Valley, Central Western California, Southwestern California, Oregon, n Baja California.
Source: npn.rngr.net