Zizia aurea, Golden Alexander
We order this plant from Wild Type. They cannot guarantee it for 2026. We would refund or ask you about substituting if they cannot provide this plant.
FS-Full shade, Zone 3, blooms April-June, 3’ x 1-2’. wet to medium dry.
Keystone species - It is the larval host plant for 4 species of moths and butterflies. It is native plant that evolved with the Black Swallowtail butterfly, as it is also in the carrot family. The mining bee Andrena ziziae is a specialist pollinator that relies on Zizia aurea for pollen to raise their broods. It is one of the earliest blooming perennials in the spring. It provides a vital nectar and pollen source for pollinators during a "bloom lull". The plant's flat-topped, shallow flower clusters (umbels) are specifically accessible to short-tongued insects, such as certain native bees, wasps, and flies, that cannot reach nectar in deeper flowers.
Zizia aurea is one of those natives that every garden should have. It’s fairly easy to grow and, although considered short-lived, will self-seed and persist in many sun/soil situations. Also called Golden Zizia, Golden Alexanders will tolerate a lot of shade but prefer full sun or light shade. 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. 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. It’s a member of the carrot family and there are other related plants that look similar. You can distinguish Alexander by the heart shaped leaves at its base. A good fresh and dried cut flower. During 2023 we had a second bloom in September. A well behaved plant that produces needed nectar early in the season. We have it planted in med to dry conditions and FS. 2023 was an abundant rain year.
Attracts a host of native bees, honey bees, native wasps, soldier beetles and butterflies. It is a host plant for the Black Swallowtailbutterfly and an important early spring plant because it provides nectar to long and short-tongued bees and Lady beetles which lay eggs on its leaves. The Swallowtail family of butterflies have adapted to use many plants in the carrot family like Dill or Fennel, which are not native. Golden Alexander is the native plant they evolved with for millions of years!
Zizia aurea, Golden Alexander
We order this plant from Wild Type. They cannot guarantee it for 2026. We would refund or ask you about substituting if they cannot provide this plant.
FS-Full shade, Zone 3, blooms April-June, 3’ x 1-2’. wet to medium dry.
Keystone species - It is the larval host plant for 4 species of moths and butterflies. It is native plant that evolved with the Black Swallowtail butterfly, as it is also in the carrot family. The mining bee Andrena ziziae is a specialist pollinator that relies on Zizia aurea for pollen to raise their broods. It is one of the earliest blooming perennials in the spring. It provides a vital nectar and pollen source for pollinators during a "bloom lull". The plant's flat-topped, shallow flower clusters (umbels) are specifically accessible to short-tongued insects, such as certain native bees, wasps, and flies, that cannot reach nectar in deeper flowers.
Zizia aurea is one of those natives that every garden should have. It’s fairly easy to grow and, although considered short-lived, will self-seed and persist in many sun/soil situations. Also called Golden Zizia, Golden Alexanders will tolerate a lot of shade but prefer full sun or light shade. 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. 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. It’s a member of the carrot family and there are other related plants that look similar. You can distinguish Alexander by the heart shaped leaves at its base. A good fresh and dried cut flower. During 2023 we had a second bloom in September. A well behaved plant that produces needed nectar early in the season. We have it planted in med to dry conditions and FS. 2023 was an abundant rain year.
Attracts a host of native bees, honey bees, native wasps, soldier beetles and butterflies. It is a host plant for the Black Swallowtailbutterfly and an important early spring plant because it provides nectar to long and short-tongued bees and Lady beetles which lay eggs on its leaves. The Swallowtail family of butterflies have adapted to use many plants in the carrot family like Dill or Fennel, which are not native. Golden Alexander is the native plant they evolved with for millions of years!
