A bulbous grass of the Lily Family of no ornamental value, native from Alaska to Ariz.The leaves are grass like, grayish and flowers are greenish or yellowish white in terminal panicl Mostly found in moist soil situations. Bulb poisonous if eaten.

glaucus 1′-2 Zone 4 White Deathcamus

This member of the Lity Family has a stem 1-2 ft. long, with gfasslike leaves arising from the lower portion of it. An open cluster of creamy-white flowers crown the stem, and these open in late summer or early fall. The plant is native tothe Great Lakes region and extends eastward from Quebec to Va., growing principally on limestone soil. Bulb poisonous if eaten.

nuttallii 6″-8″ Zone 7 Nuttallii Deathcamus

Native from Tenn. to Tex., this perennial herb has leaves up to 1 1/2 ft. long and in. wide;with flowers 1/2 in. wide, greenish white, in panicles, during June. Propagated by division or seeds, bulbs poisonous and sometimes cattle are poisoned by eating the foliage.

paniculatus 2′ Zone 4 Foothill Deathcamus

Similar to Z. nuitallii but more stout. Nativefrom Mont. to N.Mex. Bulb poisonous, if eaten.

Insect Pests

Stalk borer occasionally tunnels the stems and kills the plant above the burrow.Cutting out and killing the borer is usually sufficient. Japanese beetle feeds on Zinnia. Tarnished plant bug stings the buds and cripples the growth. Insecticide # 15 or#5 is effective.

Diseases

In late summer powdery mildew produces white felt like patches on the leaves which disfigure the plants. Fungicide #M or #V inweekly applications gives control.

angustifolia 1′ annual Narrowleaf Zinnia

Leaves linear to lanceolate, flower heads 2 in.across and golden yellow, profusely produced;each ray flower has a margin of orange. The plant is densely branched. A popular garden annual, easily grown, profuse flowering and native to Mexico.

elegans 3′ annual Common Zinnia

Sometimes called “Youth and Old Age,” this isthe Common Zinnia with hairy leaves, flowerheads up to 4 1/2 in. across and almost every color except blue and green. The habit of all the varieties is fairly stiff. Many horticultural varieties, shapes and colors.

grandifiora 8″ Zone 4 Rocky Mountain Zinnia

A small perennial from the Rockies, with clumps of stiff stems and narrow, hairy leaves.The yellow flowers are similar to the Daisy, but with age the ray flowers turn white while the disk flowers turn red. It requires a loose gravelly soil in full sun. Native from Colo. to Tex.

The Sand-verbena grows throughout the southern Midwest and western states in sunny areas where the soil is light and sandy. It is anerect perennial herb with opposite leaves. The white flowers consist of a calyx resembling petals, being 4 or 5 lobed, and the individual flatness are clustered in a loose head. Since theflowers are fragrant at night, it is an interesting addition to the wild garden, although one not frequently used.

umbellate prostrate Zone 8 Prostrate Sand-verbena

Unlike A. fragrans, this species grows as a prostrate perennial herb in Calif., where it is native, but it can be used north of Washington,D.C., as an annual. The flowers, similar to those of A. fragrans, are pink, the flower heads up to 2 in. in dia. Seeds of this plant may be sown indoors, or outside after danger of frost is past.The plants also root readily where joints touch the soil. This is a good plant for hanging baskets, or, if it is somewhat restrained, for borders or the rockery. The var. grandiflora has slightly larger flowers.