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Zizia aurea

Phonetic Spelling
ZIZ-ee-uh AW-re-uh
Description

Golden Alexanders is a carefree plant found in small colonies on wet soils but is also tolerant of dry summer conditions. It thrives in full to partial sun, but also grows in light shade under trees. 

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.

This plant was selected as the 2012 NC Wildflower of the Year, a program managed by the North Carolina Botanical Garden with some financial support from the Garden Club of North Carolina.

 

See this plant in the following landscapes:
Crowder Park Prairie and Native Plants Garden Bee Hive Garden, Wake Co
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#easy to grow#native perennials#low maintenance#ncemgva2018#fast growing#NC native#summer flowers#thickets#naturalizes#disturbed areas#cutting garden#pollinator plant#native wildflower#larval host plant#food source summer#NC Native Pollinator Plant#food source herbage#Coastal FAC#Piedmont Mountains FAC#dry soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#Audubon#NC Wildflower of the Year#perennial#meadow#woodland
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#easy to grow#native perennials#low maintenance#ncemgva2018#fast growing#NC native#summer flowers#thickets#naturalizes#disturbed areas#cutting garden#pollinator plant#native wildflower#larval host plant#food source summer#NC Native Pollinator Plant#food source herbage#Coastal FAC#Piedmont Mountains FAC#dry soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#Audubon#NC Wildflower of the Year#perennial#meadow#woodland
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Zizia
    Species:
    aurea
    Family:
    Apiaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Eastern North America
    Distribution:
    Eastern Canada and USA
    Wildlife Value:
    This plant attracts butterflies and bees.
    Play Value:
    Attracts Pollinators
    Wildlife Food Source
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Native Plant
    Perennial
    Wildflower
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    Occasionally Wet
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Green
    Purple/Lavender
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Flowers give way to 3 – 4 millimeter long, oblong, green fruit capsules slowly turn light purple in the autumn. Displays from June to July.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Umbel
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Good Cut
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    The flower is less than .3 centimeters long. Each flower has 5 each of sepals, petals and stamens. Individual flowers are clustered into 8 cm long flat-topped flower heads, the middle flower of each compound umbel is stalkless. Flowers give way to 3 – 4 millimeter long, oblong, green fruit capsules slowly turn light purple in the autumn. Blooms from April to May.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Purple/Lavender
    Leaf Feel:
    Smooth
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Leaves with finely serrated margins are lanceolate or ovate and up to 8 cm X 5 cm. Larger leaves usually have 1 or 2 sharp lobes. Lower leaves are twice or three times compound with long petioles, while the upper leaves are once compound with short petioles. The leaves slowly turn light purple in the autumn.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Meadow
    Naturalized Area
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Cottage Garden
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Specialized Bees
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Dry Soil