Zizia aurea Golden Zizia or Golden Alexander Seed & Potted Plants
(ZIZ-ee-uh  AR-ee-uh   AW-ree-uh)
Easyliving Native Perennial Wildflowers
Native Wild Flower Seeds & Plants for Home Landscaping & Prairie Restoration

 For other flowers visit the wildflower seed list , to order copy the orderform or email 
questions, comments, and orders to john@easywildflowers.com   
Zizia aurea Golden zizia potted plants are NOT available, (Zizia  aptera plants are available)
We accept payment by check, money order & through paypal

Seed shipping chart at bottom of page
Zizia aurea  like most wildflowers has several common names including Golden Alexander, Golden Aizia, & Meadow Zizia.  Native Zizia urea plants have several 1-1/2 inch clusters of small bright yellow flowers growing in an open mounded form with lush, heart shaped foliage that is attractive all summer.  Zizia aurea is a butterfly host plant for the Missouri Woodland Swallowtail butterfly.  Golden Alexander grows best in humus-rich, average to moist soil in partial shade to full sun and is ideal to plant near a garden path or in the front of a perennial border where it can be enjoyed all season.

Zizia aurea Golden alexander seed germination is improved after a pretreatment of 6 to 12  weeks of cold moist stratification or when planted outside in the fall or early winter for spring germination.

Native Golden Alexander wildflowers occur naturally in seasonally wet prairies and open woods from New York to Manitoba, and British Colombia, south to Georgia Tennessee, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas.   Apiaceae (Parsley Family)

The map below shows areas where native Zizia aurea Golden Alexander flowers grow wild, it is hardy over a much wider area if planted.  Plant in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 to 9.

USA (AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV), CAN (MB, NB, NS, ON, QC)

Use the chart below for shipping charges on flower seeds, to order copy the order form or email questions, comments & orders to john@easywildflowers.com 

Please contact us by email with your address for shipping charges & availability on Zizia aptera Golden Alexander potted plants

We accept payment by check, money order, and through Paypal

The minimum seed order amount is $10, this can be a combination of different seeds.

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Easyliving Wildflowers
PO Box  522
Willow Springs,  Mo.  65793
phone-fax 417-469-2611 

Zizia aurea Golden Alexander Plant distribution map complements of USDA, NRCS. 2001. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.1
  (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.

Golden Alexanders has its greatest potential as a component of conservation mixes and wildflower gardens.  In wet, sunny meadows and open woodlands it will naturalize.  The flowers are attractive to many kinds of butterflies and many other insects.  It is an excellent source of accessible pollen and nectar to many beneficial insects with short mouthparts.

Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status (e.g. threatened or endangered species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

leaves are up to 8 centimeters long and 5 centimeters across, have finely serrated margins, generally lanceolate or ovate in shape and the larger leaves usually have 1 or 2 sharp lobes.  Lower (basal) leaves are twice or three times compound with long petioles

leaves are up to 8 centimeters long and 5 centimeters across, have finely serrated margins, generally lanceolate or ovate in shape and the larger leaves usually have 1 or 2 sharp lobes.  Lower (basal) leaves are twice or three times compound with long petioles, while the upper leaves are once compound with short petioles.  Golden Alexanders is most noteworthy for its attractive bright yellow flower which occurs from May – June.  The flower is less than .3 centimeters long. Each flower has 5 sepals, 5 petals and 5 stamens. A cluster of flowers gathers into an 8 centimeter long flat-topped flower head, the middle flower of each compound umbel being stalk less.  Flowers give way to 3 – 4 millimeter long, oblong, green fruit capsules.  The leaves as well as the fruit slowly turn light purple in the autumn.

Golden Alexanders is a carefree plant which occurs naturally in small colonies on wet soils.  It prefers wet sites, but is very tolerant of dry conditions in the summer.  The preference is for full to partial sun, although light shade under trees is tolerated.     

Distribution: This species is widely distributed from Quebec to Saskatoon, south to Florida and Texas in USDA hardiness zones 4 – 9.  Habitats include: moist black soil prairies, openings in moist to mesic woodlands, savannas, thickets, limestone glades and bluffs, power line clearings in woodland areas, and abandoned fields.   

Production

Propagation by Seed

Large round seed capsules ripen slowly in flattened heads or umbels.  They are green for much of the summer then gradually darken to burgundy and then brown, at which time they can be removed and crushed to release the dark brown seeds.  Seed will germinate after 90 days moist, cold stratification at 4º C.  The seed of golden Alexanders germinate at high percentages.  The resulting seedlings can be transplanted into containers by midsummer; and plants will be at flowering size by the following spring.

Establishment

This species is probably best planted in the spring or early fall from containerize stock to ensure success.  Unstratified seed may also be fall planted, although germination the following spring may not be as predictable.

Management

Golden Alexanders is a hardy plant with relatively few problems.  This species is easy to grow and maintain with moderate levels of N, P and K.  It will naturalize under optimal conditions.

Pests and Potential Problems

Golden Alexanders is a plant with relatively few pest and disease problems.  Plants tend to bolt and the foliage depreciates as the summer progresses.