Zizia aurea
Golden Alexanders
General
A showy yellow perennial wildflower that blooms in late spring. In summer, the seeds and foliage turn purple. Golden Alexanders will attract butterflies and other pollinators. Andrena ziziae, a species of miner bee, is reliant on this plant.
Plant Description
Growing 3-4' tall. One central stem and occasional lateral stems. Compound yellow flat or slightly rounded umbel flowers. Pinnately compound leaves with toothed, irregularly shaped leaflets.
Height (ft)
3-4'
Soil moisture
Moist
Soil types
Loam, some coarseness tolerated
Wetland indicator
FAC
Shade tolerance
Full sun, some light shade tolerated
Bloom color
Yellow
Bloom period
Late Spring
Drought tolerance
Mild
Salinity tolerance
None
Range
Eastern half of the United States, range extending north into Canada.
Kartesz, J.T. 2024. Floristic Synthesis of North America, Version 1.0. Biota of North America Program (BONAP) [website http://bonap.org/]
Additional Information
According to BRIT - Native American Ethnobotany Database, the Meskwaki have used this plant by making a compound including the flower stalks as snuff for headaches or the roots for fevers.