Zizia aurea (L.) W.D.J. Koch Golden zizia, golden Alexander, golden Alexanders
Golden alexanders are North American natives. Plants: Up to 1½-3′ (45-91 cm) in height. Leaves: Lower leaves are divided into threes; upper leaves in two. Leaves are up to 2½″ (7 cm) long and ⅞″ (2.5 cm) wide, with toothed edges. Flowers: Flowerheads have the overall shape of a gently curved umbrella, divided into smaller groups (parasols?). The smaller groups approximately 25 tiny yellow flowers, each less than ⅛″ (3.2 mm) across, each with five petals. Fruits: The dried seedheads become purple. Here are two golden alexanders: |
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Zizia aptera |
You are here Zizia aurea |
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Common Name | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Plant | 1-2½′ (30-76 cm) high. | 1½-3′ (45-91 cm) high. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Flowers | Umbrella-shaped cluster about 2-3″ (5-7.6 cm) across, split into smaller groups of tiny yellow flowers, about 25 per group. | Umbrella-shaped cluster about 2″ (5 cm) across, split into smaller groups of tiny yellow flowers, about 25 per group. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Leaves | Lower leaves are heart-shaped. Up to 4″ (10 cm) long × 3″ (7.6 cm) wide. | Lower leaves divided into threes, upper leaves in two. Up to 2½″ (6.3 cm) long × 2½″ (6.3 cm) wide. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Range/ Zones | USDA Zones: 3-8 | USDA Zones: 3-8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Habitats | Black soil prairies, hillside prairies, rocky upland woodlands, limestone glades, bluffs, abandoned fields, and roadsides | Prairies, glades, open woods, fields, thickets | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Type | Wild | Wild |
Edibility: Not edible. Caution: the flowerheads of these plants resemble those of water hemlock (Cicuta maculata), which is extremely poisonous . Water hemlock flowers are white, while zizias are yellow.
Online References:
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Zizia aurea description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 16 Sep 2020.
Range: Zones 3-8: