Zizia aurea Golden Alexanders

Ohio Native Plant Natural Range

To view the natural range of Zizia aurea visit the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service website.
Skipper resting on Zizia aurea - Jim Wohl

Cultivation Information Golden Alexanders

An early spring source of nectar and pollen By Jim Wohl

Height - 1 - 3 ftFlower Color - YellowBlooms - April - JuneHardy Zone - 3 to 8Perennial Soil - Moist to MediumSun - Sun to Part Sun - I have a patch growing in two different shady areas of our yard. The plants do well, blooms aren't as robust as those receiving more sunlight
Provides - Nectar & pollen and cheery yellow flowers early in the spring
Self-seed - Perhaps it is due to the weight of the seed, they are heavier than say Rudbeckia triloba, which tends to fly all over the yard. Zizia aurea prefers to stay close to home.
Family – Apiaceae/Umbelliferae - Carrot family
Beth Reis has raised and released numerous Black Swallowtail Butterflies
Golden Alexanders flowers look like yellow umbrellas!

Wildlife Significance Golden Alexanders


Nectar Source - For Butterflies, Soldier Beetles, large bees visit for nectar
Pollen - Native Bees - Mining Bees specialize in Golden Alexander
Host Plant - For caterpillars of Black Swallowtail, Ozark Swallowtail butterflies and Rigid Sunflower Borer moth
Deer - Deer aren't crazy about this plant
Attracts - Predatory insects
For detailed information on Golden Alexanders, visit the Illinois Wildflower website
Propagation Notes Zizia aurea
Seed Stratification
Ripe Seed – Wait until late in the fall before harvesting Golden Alexanders seed. Mature seed is black and similar in shape to anise seed, minus the pleasant smell. Cold Moist Storage - For 60 days is suggested. However, we have found that sowing these seeds outdoor in the fall yields the best results. Simple cold frames protect tender young shoots from heavy rain and cool temperatures.
Seed Provenance Zizia aurea
Nodding Onion Gardens - 2013 to Present - James Town, New York, Audubon Nature Center, 2012.