# crowpoison (*Nothoscordum bivalve*) Crowpoison is a pretty plant with star-shaped flowers that bloom in spring. It grows in sunny places and can be found in fields and along roadsides. Its flowers attract butterflies and bees! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 7 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![crowpoison](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/5416254/medium.jpeg) Photo: Sam Kieschnick, CC BY 4.0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/5416254) ## Appearance The crowpoison is a small plant with slender, grass-like leaves growing from its base. It produces delicate clusters of white or pinkish-white, bell-shaped flowers on a thin stalk. These tiny blooms form an umbrella-like shape at the top. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Liliopsida - **Order:** Asparagales - **Family:** Amaryllidaceae - **Genus:** Nothoscordum ## Interesting facts - Crowpoison can spread quickly in yards, often surprising gardeners with its sudden appearance in spring! - It produces small, star-shaped flowers that bloom together, looking like a cluster of tiny white fireworks! - It's sometimes called "false garlic" because it looks like wild onions but doesn't smell like them! - The plant grows from a tiny bulb that acts like its underground food pantry, storing energy for tough times! ## Special abilities - **Energy Storage Bulb:** crowpoison has a small underground bulb that stores food, helping it survive cold winters and sprout quickly in spring. - **Early Spring Bloomer:** crowpoison can bloom very early, helping it grab sunlight before taller plants leaf out and shade it. - **Chemical Defense:** crowpoison has sulfur-containing compounds that can deter hungry animals from eating too much of the plant. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 15-40 cm - **Spread:** 10-20 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring (March-May) - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar from its small flowers. - **Pollinates:** Common Eastern Bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — Visits the blooms for nectar and pollen. - **Eaten by:** [Cattle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cattle) (*Bos taurus*) — Can cause illness if consumed in large quantities. - **Eaten by:** [Horse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/horse) (*Equus caballus*) — Ingesting large amounts may lead to digestive upset. ## Traits - [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. ## Collections - [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers) - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch plants unless you know they are safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify crowpoison? Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is crowpoison? 15-40 cm ### How wide does crowpoison spread? 10-20 cm ### How big are the flowers on crowpoison? 0.5-1.5 cm ### When does crowpoison bloom? Spring (March-May) ### Is crowpoison edible? No ### Is crowpoison toxic? Mild ### What is crowpoison's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Bainbridge Commercial Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bainbridge-commercial-historic-district) — Georgia, US · Historic District - [Chambers County Courthouse Square Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chambers-county-courthouse-square-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [San Antonio Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/san-antonio-zoo) — Texas, US · Zoo - [Calhoun Downtown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/calhoun-downtown-historic-district) — Georgia, US · Historic District - [Jackson Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jackson-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Luverne Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/luverne-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District [View all places to see crowpoison](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/crowpoison) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Crowpoison: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/crowpoison)