Zizea aurea (Golden Alexanders) is an erect-growing, clump-forming perennial native wildflower, with compound leaves, that can grow to a height of 3 ft. Golden Alexanders is our earliest blooming herbaceous native species, with the first blooms appearing up to a month prior to the local frost-free date. In our production fields, the first bloom date for Zizea aurea is variable by year, whereas the final bloom date is consistently in the first week of June. The blooms of Golden Alexanders are bright yellow and shaped like those of Queen Anne's Lace. Zizia aurea is an early season food source for specialist and foraging bees and butterflies. Golden Alexanders can occur from North Dakota to eastern Texas, the panhandle of Florida to Maine. Zizia aurea can be found in floodplains, wooded bottomland, streambanks, and moist meadows. Golden Alexanders can be grown in moist to dry soils, in full sun to partial shade. With its moisture and light tolerances, Zizia aurea can be used in wet meadow, riparian, rain garden, and pollinator-friendly meadow mixes. Seed dormancy can be very significant for some Zizia aurea. To break seed dormancy for transplant production, we recommend three to four months of cold, moist stratification. Zizia aurea is a member of the carrot (Apiaceae) family. The genus name honors German botanist. Johann Ziz. The species name aurea means "golden."
