How to Take Care Of Zizia Aurea

Golden Alexander, Zizia aurea

Golden Alexander ( Zizia aurea) is a native North American seasonal wildflower understood for its yellow, firework-like blossoms that flower in mid-spring– and, more significantly, for being the host plant for the black swallowtail butterfly. The butterfly lays eggs on the plant’s appealing umbels, which offer food for the ultimate caterpillars.

Photograph by Mississippi Watershed Management Organization, via Flickr. — Above: Photo by Mississippi Watershed Management Company, through Flickr.

The plant has a long blossom time, about a month. It’s a brilliant, pleased flower that is an exceptional source of food for pollinators early in the spring. Golden Alexander becomes part of the carrot household and looks quite like wild parsnip, which includes sap that is phototoxic (skin contact with the sap, followed by direct exposure to sunshine, can trigger a rash).

Photograph by Joshua Mayer, via Flickr.Â — Above: Photo by Joshua Mayer, through Flickr.

3 methods to discriminate in between the golden Alexander and wild parsnip are size, leaf shape, and blossom time. Golden Alexander is lower-growing, as much as 3 feet high, while wild parsnip grows to 4 to 5 feet high. The leaves of golden Alexander are smooth and carefully serrated, whereas wild parsnip’s are deep and forked. Blossom time is in between April and June for golden Alexander; in between June and July for wild parsnip.

Cheat Sheet

Golden Alexander (lower left) fits right in in this meadow-style front yard garden in Iowa. Photograph courtesy of Kelly D. Norris, fromÂ Ask the Expert: Horticulturist Kelly D. Norris on the ‘New Naturalism’. — Above: Golden Alexander (lower left) fits right in in this meadow-style front lawn garden in Iowa. Photo thanks to Kelly D. Norris, from Ask the Professional: Gardener Kelly D. Norris on the ‘Brand-new Naturalism’

Golden Alexander is belonging to the eastern United States and Canada and is durable in zones 3 to 8. It likes complete sun to part shade and can prosper in a range of soils.
It grows in between a foot to 3 feet high and infects about 2 feet.
The small yellow flowers remain in flat-topped umbel clusters held high over the plant.
It is deer-resistant and as soon as developed, dry spell tolerant.
Self plants well. Great for a naturalized location in your garden.

Keep It Alive

Photograph by Scott Zona, via Flickr. — Above: Photo by Scott Zona, through Flickr.

Modify the soil with garden compost or other raw material prior to planting.
Area plants 12 to 18 inches apart.
Water routinely till developed (normally the very first complete year in the ground).
Deadhead invested flowers to motivate more blossoms.
Divide every 3 to 5 years to keep plants healthy and energetic.

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