The common name of "fly poison" comes from what the plant can be used as: to kill flies (by grounding a mixture of some of the plant parts--mainly the bulb-- and adding sugar). However, this plant-- including the bulb-- is poisonous to not just flies but also humans and animals (usually livestock). The bulb of Amianthium muscitoxicum is very poisonous . This plant contains toxic alkaloids in all parts of the plant. The second part of the name ( muscitoxicum ) called the species means "flies" and "poison" (Latin meaning from muscae and toxicum). You can propagate this plant through root division or seeds (however, propagating through root division is easier). It can be found growing as a native plant in moist woods, especially oak forests, bogs, low pinelands, savannas, meadows, and sandhills. It does best when receiving a few hours of sun per day. There are no specific insects, disease or other plant problems.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Moist
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Linear
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The plant has 15 to 20 inches long, grasslike, veined, basal leaves with center rib and blunt tips.
Flower color
Green; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Star
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
The season is in the early summer. Flowers can feel sticky. The clusters of flowers as a whole can be anywhere from 2- 6 inches. The blossoms are white until they are pollinated when they turn pale green. They will bloom from April to June. The plant has a dense, cylindrical cluster of .5-in., creamy white flowers on top of a mostly leafless stem. The flowers persist and turn green to greenish-purple with age. There is a leafless flower stalk.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Orange; Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit detail
The plant has three-beaked, dark brown capsule containing red seeds. The fruit is bright orange.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
The stem is erect and unbranched.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
E. Central & E. U.S.A
Distribution
AL, AR, DE, FL, GA, KY, LA, MD, MO, MS, NC, NJ, NY, OK, PA, SC, TN, VA, WV
CAN BE FATAL IF INGESTED! All parts of the plant, including the bulb, are poisonous. This tends to be a problem for livestock, although this plant is also poisonous to humans and other animals. Depending on how much is eaten and other factors, symptoms for livestock could include producing more saliva than normal, vomiting, being clumsy when trying to move, weakness, not being able to move well, struggling to breathe, having hemorrhages, or dying (generally because too much struggle breathing). Symptoms may last 2 days.