Zizia aurea (Golden Alexanders)

Other common names: Golden Zizia.

Golden Alexanders is covered with bright golden flowers that bloom for several weeks in late spring. This is an excellent low-growing perennial for sun to part shade. It will naturalize in wet, sunny meadows and open woodlands. The flowers attract many kinds of butterflies and other insects. It is an excellent source of pollen and nectar to many beneficial insects. Golden Alexanders is considered a shot-lived perennial that persists by re-seeding.

Golden Alexanders is an easy to grow plant which occurs naturally in small colonies on wet soils. It prefers moist, well-draining soils, but is tolerant of dry conditions in the summer. Its preference is for full to partial sun, but is tolerant of light shade. It does well in clay loam, rocky or gravelly soils, alkaline pH and can withstand controlled burns. Plants tend to bolt in the summer.

Golden Alexanders works well with Blue False Indigo, columbines, Butterfly Weed, Sideoats Grama, Wild Bergamot, Rudbeckia hirta, Little Bluestem and Indiangrass. It can be used in naturalized gardens, pollinator gardens, rain gardens and perennial borders. It does best planted in groups or as mass planting.