Golden Alexanders
Zizia aurea
General Information
Golden Alexanders is an easy-to-grow, clump-forming herbaceous perennial. It prefers wetter sites but tolerates drier sites.
Golden Alexanders is typically found in openings in moist to mesic woodlands, savannas, thickets, limestone glades and bluffs, power line clearings in woodland areas, and in abandoned fields. It prefers moist, rich soils.
Golden Alexanders has showy yellow flowers and blooms between April and June. It makes a good cut flower.
Plant Information
Plant Type:
Herbaceous Perennial
Sun Preference:
Full Sun * Part Sun
Soil Moisture Preference:
Medium-Wet * Medium * Medium-Dry
Plant Height:
2 to 3 feet
Plant Width:
1 to 2 feet
Plant Spacing:
1 to 2 feet
Flower Color:
Yellow
Flower timing:
April to June
Culture Information:
The best locations to plant Golden Alexanders include meadows, naturalized areas, woodlands, butterfly gardens, cottage gardens, native gardens, and pollinator gardens.
When first planted, Golden Alexanders should be watered weekly for first few months, unless at least an inch of rain has been received in the last week to help it get established. After it becomes established, Golden Alexanders appreciates watering during extended dry periods.
As with most perennials, Golden Alexanders can be cut to the ground after the first freeze or left until late winter. Deadheading is the best management strategy to control its spread, as it can reseed heavily given the proper location.
Tolerates:
Pests & Disease:
Golden Alexanders has no serious insect problems.
Golden Alexanders has no serious disease problems.
Wildlife Use:
Pollinators: Golden Alexanders is a larval host plant for the Swallowtail Butterfly.
Birds: N/A.
Mammals: N/A.
Other: N/A.
Native to:
More Information:
NC State Plant Database:
Missouri Botanical Garden:
TN-KY Plant Atlas
Other Link: