Prairie Golden Alexanders Zizia aptera
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ZIZ-ee-ah AP-ter-ah
- Description
-
Heart-leaf Golden-Alexanders is a herbaceous perennial found in moist woodland areas, thickets, glades, prairies, and clearings. It can grow singly or in small colonies/clumps.
The absence of a flower stalk on the central flower of each umbel makes this variety different from other members of the carrot family. Sometimes confused with Zizia aurea, its simple, heart-shaped basal leaves make this variety unique.
A typical plant can have two or more clusters of flowers. These flat-topped clusters bloom in late spring to early summer on the upper stems. These umbels (a flower cluster with stalks of equal length that form a common center) are 2 to 3" across and contain 7 to 15 umbellets. The umbellets each have 10 to 20 flowers. Each tiny flower has 5 petals that remain nearly closed. The tiny flowers are a mere 1/8 inch across.
Bees, pollinating flies, butterflies, beetles, and other plant insects seek the nectar and pollen from this plant's flowers. The caterpillars of the black swallowtail butterfly eat the foliage.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: The late summer foliage may become depleted. This plant may be short-lived.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Zizia
- Species:
- aptera
- Family:
- Apiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North America
- Distribution:
- AL, AR, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KY, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NH, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, UT, WA, WI, WV, WY
- Wildlife Value:
- Bees and flies are attracted by the plants' nectar. This plant supports Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) larvae which appear between April and October and have one to two flights in the north or three flights in the south. Adult Black Swallowtail butterflies feed on flower nectar from thistles, milkweed and red clover.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Easy to Grow
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- 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
- Loam (Silt)
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- 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:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The oval fruits are displayed from July to August. They are a small fruit with 5 angular ribs that replace each flower. They have 2 sections, are slightly flattened and ridged. They eventually split into 2 seeds.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The flowers bloom from April to May. They grow as 2-3" clusters of 7-15 smaller clusters, each having 10-20 1/8" flowers. The flowers do not open fully.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Undivided basal leaves attach to the stem by way of 2-3" petioles. As you progress up the stem, the leaves are smaller and the petioles are shorter. The upper leaves may be compound. A spot of purple is often visible where the leaf of end leaflet meet the stalk.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- The stems are hairless and rounded. Vertical light green lines are present.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
