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Culture: Grow in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade.
Noteworthy Characteristics: Zizia aurea, commonly called golden Alexander, is a native perennial which occurs most often in small colonies in moist woods and meadows, thickets, glades and prairies. Features flat-topped clusters (compound umbels) of tiny yellow flowers in late spring atop stems growing to 3′ tall. Distinguished from other carrot family members by the absence of a flower stalk on the central flower of each umbel. Both basal and stem leaves are compound biternate with toothed leaflets. The similar Zizia aptera has simple, heart-shaped basal leaves. Golden Alexander is a food plant for the larvae of the woodland swallowtail butterfly (Papilio joanae).
Genus name honors German botanist Johann Baptist Ziz (d. 1829). Specific epithet means golden.
Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. Foliage tends to depreciate as the summer progresses. In ideal conditions can reseed heavily.
Garden Uses: Best massed in open woodland or prairie areas, wild or native plant gardens.
All plant information courtesy of the Missouri Botanical Garden
Price range: $6.00 through $10.00
Zizia aurea is one of those natives that every garden should have. It is fairly easy to grow and, although short-lived, will self-seed and persist in many sun/soil situations. Zizia is an important plant to a number of short-tongued insects that are able to easily reach the nectar in the small yellow flowers. Black Swallowtail and Ozark Swallowtails caterpillars will feed on its leaves.
Golden Alexanders have a long bloom time, giving the garden/prairie some well-deserved early color for several weeks in late spring to early summer when many other plants have not yet flowered. Also called Golden Zizia, Golden Alexanders will tolerate a lot of shade but prefer full sun or light shade.
Zizia is a member of the Carrot (Apiaceae) family with yellow umbel flowers. Our website also features the following species with similar blossoms: Taenidia integerrima (Yellow Pimpernel), Polytaenia nuttallii (Prairie Parsley) andThaspium trifoliatum (Meadow Parsnip). Of course Zizia aptera (Heart-leaf Golden Alexanders), is most similar and could be difficult to distinguish from Zizia aurea were it not for the heart-shaped leaves at the base of the plant. Heart-leaf Golden Alexanders can endure drier soils also.
All of these important perennial native plants should not be confused with the similar-looking Pastinaca sativa (Wild Parsnip), a highly invasive Eurasian biennial commonly found on roadsides and other disturbed sites. Wild Parsnip is taller than the aforementioned natives, blooms later and can cause painful skin burns.
Price range: $6.00 through $10.00
