Known to be toxic - Toxic to mammals if ingested.
Plant Names
Zizia aurea
Golden Alexanders
Zizia doré
Synonyms
common alexanders
golden meadowparsnip
golden zizia
zizie dorée
Plant Characteristics
Bloom Colour: Yellow
Bloom Period: Apr - Jun
Max Height: 3.0 feet
Max Width: 2.0 feet
Light Condition:
More than 6 hours of direct sun a day
More than 2 or 3 hours but less than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Soil conditions:
Tolerates medium soil condition
More than 6 hours of direct sun a day
More than 2 or 3 hours but less than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Tolerates medium soil condition
Lifespan:
Perennial
plants that will that come back year after year
Gardener Experience:
Suitable for beginner gardeners
Does not spread uncontrollably
Easy to germinate
Self-seeding
Suitable for beginner gardeners
Does not spread uncontrollably
Easy to germinate
Self-seeding
Landscape Uses:
Suitable for rain gardens
Suitable for shoreline rehabilitation
Suitable for container garden
Suitable for school gardens
Tolerates boulevard garden conditions
Suitable for rain gardens
Suitable for shoreline rehabilitation
Suitable for container garden
Suitable for school gardens
Tolerates boulevard garden conditions
Ecological Benefits:
Supports pollinators
Butterfly host
Bee host
Supports pollinators
Butterfly host
Bee host
Tolerates:
Tolerates salt conditions
Deer resistant
Rabbit resistant
Tolerates foot traffic around the plant
Tolerates limestone conditions
Tolerates transplantation
Tolerates salt conditions
Deer resistant
Rabbit resistant
Tolerates foot traffic around the plant
Tolerates limestone conditions
Tolerates transplantation
Special Features and Considerations:
Seed and plant distribution status
No seeds available for this plant.
We are not accepting seeds for this plant at the moment.
Plant Location
Native to Ottawa region: Yes
Distribution according to VASCAN
Ephemeral
Native
Introduced
Excluded
Extirpated
Doubtful
Absent
Canadensis
Thrives in Ecozones
- Atlantic Maritime
- Boreal Plains
- Prairies
- Boreal Shield
- Mixed Wood Plains
Ecological Benefits
Butterflies Supported by Zizia aurea
- Papilio polyxenes (Black Swallowtail)
Specialized Bees Supported by Zizia aurea
- Andrena ziziae
Complementary Plants
- Agalinis tenuifolia
Slender-leaved False Foxglove
Gérardie à feuilles ténues - Astragalus canadensis
Canada Milk-vetch
Astragale du Canada - Bouteloua curtipendula
Side-oats Grama
Grand boutelou - Senna hebecarpa
Wild Senna
Casse à fruits velus - Verbena simplex
Narrow-leaved Vervain
Verveine simple
Substitute For Non-Native Plants
No substitute plant data available for this plant.
Sowing Information
Download Seed Envelope Labels (PDF)
- Sowing depth: Sow just below surface
- Sow anytime
- Stratification duration: 0 days
- Self-seeding
- Notes: Best direct sowed in late fall just below surface of cool soil.
Harvesting and Seed Sharing
- Harvest start month: August
- Harvesting indicator:
- Pods are brown and crisp and starting to open
- Seeds are dark and tiny stem attaching to the main stem is brown
- Seeds easily fall off pod when shaken
- Little stem connecting the pod to the main stem is brown (not green)
- Harvesting:
- Shake seed head in paper bag
- Seed viability test:
- No test needed before donating
- Packaging measure: 1 rounded 1/8 teaspoon
- Seed storage:
- Air dry in paper bag or open container, for a few days until crisp
- Shake seeds to move them once in a while to prevent molding
- Cultivar: No, you can donate without knowing the source as there are only straight species
- Harvesting video: Watch here
Toxicity Notes
Toxic to mammals if ingested.