Elsewhere, the plant can be found from Saskatchewan to British Columbia south to Nebraska, Colorado, and California at elevations up to 8,200 feet. Narrowleaved death camas is perennial from a deeply buried bulb. In North Dakota, plants are usually about eighteen inches tall, but get taller in states to the South. Lower leaves are about a foot long, whereas those on the upper stem are only about half that length. Flowers are borne on pedicels about a half inch long.
Fruits are three quarters of an inch long, three-lobed capsules containing a few seeds.
Look for narrowleaved death camas from late May to July in dry, moderately grazed pastures. Alkaloids found in Zigadenus are notorious for poisoning of sheep and occasionally cattle and horses. However, plants are usually distasteful to well-fed livestock and must be consumed in quantity before trouble begins. Conditions where poisoning occurred usually are the result of poor livestock or range management. Cases of human poisoning from ingestion of bulbs have been reported.