PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

 
 
   
 
Scientific Name Common Name Global Rank State Rank Federal Status WI Status

Wild Hyacinth (Camassia scilloides)

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Photo by Ted Cochrane

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Wild Hyacinth (Camassia scilloides), a Wisconsin Endangered plant, is found in moist prairie remnants, especially along roads and railroad rights-of-way. Blooming occurs late-April through late-May, fruiting early-June. The optimal identification period for this species is late-April through May.

 
 
 

Wild hyacinth is an erect forb with a stout spike, 30-60cm tall, bearing numerous 1-2cm wide pale violet to white flowers with 6 petals. Leaves are all basal, 20-40cm long and 5-10mm wide. Fruit is a rounded, veined capsule with few to several seeds.

Blooming occurs late-April through late-May, fruiting in early-June.

Perennial. The optimal identification period for this species is late-April through late-May.

Associated species include Allium canadense, Dodecatheon radicatum, Taenidia integerrima, Zizia aptera, Trillium grandiflorum, Sanguinaria canadensis, Phalaris arundinacea, Solidago canadensis, Geranium maculatum, Poa pratensis, and Asclepias syriaca.

Wild hyacinth is found in moist prairie remnants, especially along roads and railroad rights-of-way.

Avoid known individual plant locations and conduct operations elsewhere when they are least likely to cause damage. Ideally, this would involve frozen, snow-covered ground. However, in areas of the state where frozen conditions are unreliable, very dry soils late in the growing season might be the best available alternative. Consult with a biologist, if needed.

Avoid broadcast spraying of herbicides and use care with spot spraying.

Prescribed burns and/or brushing may be beneficial, dependent on local site conditions and burn frequency. Rotational burns with annual unburned refugia may be preferred.

Minimize disturbance to hydrology, including soil disturbance from rutting.

Maintain and restore open habitat through selective clearing and brushing.

Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) are associated with habitats (or natural communities) and places on the landscape. Understanding relationships among SGCN, natural communities and ecological landscapes help us make decisions about issues affecting SGCN and their habitat and how to respond. Download the Wildlife Action Plan association score spreadsheet to explore rare species, natural communities and ecological landscape associations

Conservation actions respond to issues or threats, which adversely affect species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) or their habitats. Besides actions such as restoring wetlands or planting resilient tree species in northern communities, research, surveys and monitoring are also among conservation actions described in the Wisconsin Wildlife Action Plan because lack of information can threaten our ability to successfully preserve and care for natural resources.