Early Spring: Golden Alexanders, Zizia aurea

Need a spot of sunshine in your garden? Golden Alexanders, Zizia aurea, cheery golden flowers bloom from as early as April continuing through early June.

A native of Maryland, its natural range includes Eastern Canada and the United States from the Atlantic Coast to the eastern Great Plains. They grow in zones 4 to 9.

It attracts butterflies and other insects but it is deer resistant.

This carefree, very low maintenance little plant grows 1 to 2 feet high and wide. In the proper setting, it will quickly colonize and your garden, meadow or meadow/forest border should be filled with them. Within three years, one plant has become over three dozen in my garden. They transplant easily so you can fill in bare spots, give them to friends or pot them for plant sales. This highly underappreciated garden gem would be a great addition to any garden or meadow in Maryland.

Golden Alexanders prefers wet or moist soil but tolerates drought in the summertime. I keep my next to the birdbath along with all of the other plants that prefer moist or wet soil

They like sun or part shade but will grow under trees. I plan to grow some under young trees to keep out the weeds.

These plants are herbaceous perennial, they die back in winter and regrow in the spring from their roots. They are members of the Apiaceae or carrot family.

Plant Golden Alexanders in spring or early fall from plants in containers, says the US Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Plant unstratified seeds in the fall but NRCS notes that germination may be iffy. 

Laura

Summary:

Native

Yellow flower

Sun to part shade

Wet or moist soil

Height 1-2 ft., spread 1-2 ft.

Tolerates summer drought and clay, loam or sandy soil

Deer resistant

Colonizes