Toxicoscordion fontanum

Marsh zigadenus

Family: Melanthiaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 4.2

Marsh zigadenus is a California native perennial found in northern California coastal ranges, San Francisco Bay Area, and south-central coastal ranges in vernally moist or serpentine areas at elevations below 500 meters. Flowering from March to August, this plant produces white to cream-colored flowers with delicate ovate perianth parts 4 to 12 millimeters long. Growing with tall stems 60 to 80 centimeters high, it emerges from a substantial bulb 25 to 45 millimeters in diameter with a brown outer coating. Its leaves are erect, often exceeding the stem height and reaching 10 to 25 millimeters wide, with an elegant vertical structure. The plant develops a branching panicle inflorescence with green bracts 5 to 35 millimeters long, bearing pedicels that spread and curve upward in fruit.

Habitat: Vernally moist or marshy areas, often serpentine

Bloom period: Mar-Aug

Elevation: < 500 m

Bioregions: NCoR, SnFrB, SCoRI.

California counties: Sonoma, Marin, Lake, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Napa, Colusa, Santa Cruz

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.