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Know this look-alike

Wild Onion, Garlic and Ramp Look-alikes: Death Camas and Friends

These look-alikes can be deadly. Get the identification right before you eat anything. If it does not smell like onion or garlic, do not eat it. Death camas, false hellebore, and lily of the valley grow alongside wild onions, garlic, chives, and ramps and are dangerously toxic. Crush a leaf from each plant you pick and smell it, and clean your hands between plants, because onion scent on your fingers can fool you.

The dangerous species

Death Camas (Toxicoscordion venenosum / Anticlea elegans (formerly Zigadenus))
David Anderson · CC BY
⚠ do not eat

Death Camas

Toxicoscordion venenosum / Anticlea elegans (formerly Zigadenus)

How to tell it apart

  • The leaves are sharply folded into a 'V' shape along their length, quite unlike the leaves of wild onions. Wikipedia ↗
  • As few as two bulbs are sufficient to kill a fully-grown human, with the poisons not degraded by cooking. Wikipedia ↗
Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis)
Deana Tempest Thomas · CC BY
⚠ do not eat

Lily of the Valley

Convallaria majalis

How to tell it apart

  • This groundcover grows to a height of 10 inches and a spread of 1 to 2 feet with lush green leaves and delicate, fragrant bell shaped white flowers. NC State Extension ↗
  • Due to the concentration of potent cardiac glycosides (cardenolides), it is highly poisonous if consumed. Wikipedia ↗
False Hellebore / Corn Lily (Veratrum viride (Eastern False Hellebore) / V. californicum (Western Corn Lily))
101595408250610106310 · CC BY
⚠ do not eat

False Hellebore / Corn Lily

Veratrum viride (Eastern False Hellebore) / V. californicum (Western Corn Lily)

How to tell it apart

  • The leaves are spirally arranged, 10 to 35 cm (4 to 14 in) long and 5 to 20 cm (2 to 8 in) broad, elliptic to broad lanceolate ending in a short point, heavily ribbed and hairy on the underside. Wikipedia ↗
  • The plant is highly toxic, causing nausea and vomiting. Wikipedia ↗

Edibles people confuse with these

If you are foraging any of these, rule out the look-alikes above every time.

edible
False Solomon's Seal (Maianthemum racemosum)
Don Loarie · CC BY

False Solomon's Seal

Maianthemum racemosum

expert

The notes above are an educational starting point, not a substitute for a field guide or an experienced forager. If you are not completely certain, do not eat it.