FNPS Plant Database

Stenanthium densum

crow poison, Osceloa's plume
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Roger Hammer, Dade Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

crow poison, Osceloa's plume

Synonym(s):

Zigadenus densus

Genus species:

Stenanthium densum

Family:

Melanthiaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

Flower

Size:

1–2.5 ft

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

Phenology:

Winter dormant

Noted For:

Showy Flowers

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Wildflower garden. Could be naturalized in moist flatwoods that is kept low (burned).

Considerations:

Poisonous.

Availability:

Seed

Propagation:

Separation of bulbs. Seed.

Light:

Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded---------------------------------Extremely Dry

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Usually moist, occasional inundation -to- Not wet but not extremely dry

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Moderate. Tolerant of salty wind and may get some salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand

Soil pH:

Acidic

Suitable to Grow In:

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.

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Vouchered In:

Distribution
Vouchered
Not vouchered
Selected
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Starting…
Map coded by Melissa Fernandez-de Cespedes (Paynes Prairie Chapter)

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators

Attracts a variety of insect pollinators.

Native Habitats:

Wet flatwoods, wet prairie, cutthroat seep, roadside ditches. This species is particularly noticable after burns

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

FNPS Plant Print

Citations:

Hammer, Roger. (2018). Complete Guide to Florida Wildflowers. Falcon Guides, Guilford, CT.


Huegel, Craig N. (2009-2025). Native Florida Wildflowers (blog). ( http://hawthornhillwildflowers.blogspot.com/ ).


Vogelpohl, Sid. (2020). Know Your Natives: Crow Poison. ( https://anps.org/2020/03/24/know-your-natives-crow-poison/ ). Accessed 2026. Arkansas Native Plant Society, Little Rock, AR.

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