Golden alexanders
Zizia aurea (L.) Koch
Family: Apiaceae (carrot)
- Bloom Period:
- Early,
- Growth Cycle:
- Perennial,
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub,
- Tree,
- Insect Type Attracted:
- Natural Enemy,
- Pollinator,
- Light:
- Full,
- Partial,
- Region:
- Northern Lower Peninsula,
- Southern Lower Peninsula,
- Soil Moisture:
- Medium,
- Wet
- Height:
- 2-3ft
Natural enemies attracted
Moderately attractive: Chalcidoidea and Empididae.
Mildly attractive: Orius insidiosus, Cynipoidea and Coccinellidae
Pollinators attracted
Moderately attractive: of bees including yellow-faced bees, Andrenid bees, sweat bees, and cuckoo bees.
Pests attracted
Moderately attractive: thrips, lygus bugs, and aphids.
Mildly attractive: leafhoppers, weevils and froghoppers.
Plant notes
Flat, yellow flower clusters from 2-4 inches across open on stalks 2-3 ft tall. This species was small in stature in its second year of growth, but filled in completely and bloomed prolifically by the third year. Plants bloomed from late May through mid June. This species was the fourth most attractive to natural enemies in the early season.
Habitat
Golden alexanders grows in full sun to partial sun, and average to moist soils. It is naturally occurring in areas with tamarack and poison sumac in boggy ground and fens, and on river banks in openings and thickets. It is also found in open woods, meadows, and along fencerows.
Cultivation and management
This plant can be grown from seed (It flowers in the third year.) or plug material (flowers in second year). Its attractive foliage remains lush for the entire growing season.