Zizia aurea (Golden Alexanders)
| Also known as: | Golden Zizia |
|---|---|
| Genus: | Zizia |
| Family: | Apiaceae (Carrot) |
| Life cycle: | perennial |
| Origin: | native |
| Habitat: | part shade, sun; moist fields, thickets, rich open woods, along streams |
| Bloom season: | May - July |
| Plant height: | 1 to 3 feet |
| Wetland Indicator Status: | GP: FAC MW: FAC NCNE: FAC |
| MN county distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
| National distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
Pick an image for a larger view. See the glossary for icon descriptions.
Detailed Information
Flower: 
![[photo of flowers]](/udata/r9ndp23q/yellow/golden-alexanders-100_5629.jpg)
Flowers are in flat-topped clusters (umbels) 2 to 3 inches across, in 10 to 18 groups (umbellets) of up to 20 flowers each. Individual flowers are about 1/8 inch across with 5 yellow petals that fold inward and 5 yellow stamens.
![[close-up of umbellets]](/udata/r9ndp23q/pd/zizia-stalkless-flower.jpg)
The central flower in an umbellet is stalkless or nearly so while the rest are stalked. Umbels are at the top of the stem and arising from upper leaf axils.
Leaves:
![[photo of leaves]](/udata/r9ndp23q/yellow/golden-alexanders-100_5642.jpg)
Leaves are 2 or 3 times compound in groups of 3. Leaflets are to 3 inches long and 2 inches wide, with sharply toothed edges and pointed tips. The end leaflet is largest and usually tapers to a narrow base, though leaflet shape varies and may be oval, egg shaped, irregular, lobed or divided into 2 or 3 parts.
Fruit:
![[photo of developing fruit]](/udata/r9ndp23q/yellow/golden-alexanders_0701_100206.jpg)
Fruit is 2-sectioned, oval, slightly flattened, ridged, eventually splitting into 2 seeds.
![[photo of seeds]](/udata/r9ndp23q/pd/zizia-aurea-seed-1.jpg)
Seeds are oblong, 1/8 to 1/6 inch long, ripen to dark brown.
Notes:
Golden Alexanders often grow in colonies. In late spring and early summer it is a common sight across Minnesota in open prairies, woodland edges, and roadsides with adequate moisture. There are several related species with similar yellow flower clusters but only the Zizia species have a stalkless flower in the center of an umblet—other genera have all-stalked flowers. This trait can be seen when either flowers or fruits are present. Of the similar species, Heart-leaved Alexanders (Zizia aptera) has long-stalked, undivided, heart-shaped lower leaves. Yellow Pimpernel (Taenidia integerrima) has rather airier clusters and toothless leaflets. Hairy-jointed Meadow Parsnip (Thaspium barbinode) has winged fruits, and minute hairs around the leaf nodes and at the base of the umbel. Wild Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa), a highly invasive species found across Minnesota, is a much larger plant (often 4-5+ feet tall) with a larger flower cluster (to 8 inches across), duller, somewhat greenish-yellow flowers, once-compound leaves with up to 15 leaflets, and it blooms later, typically just emerging when Golden Alexanders are in full bloom.
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More photos
Golden Alexanders plant
more plants
roadside stand of Golden Alexanders
garden grown Golden Alexanders
Golden Alexanders with emerging Wild Parsnip
twice compound leaves
maturing fruit, before splitting
Golden Alexanders plant
more plants
roadside stand of Golden Alexanders
garden grown Golden Alexanders
Golden Alexanders with emerging Wild Parsnip
twice compound leaves
maturing fruit, before splittingPhotos by K. Chayka taken at Long Lake Regional Park, Ramsey County, and along a roadside in Aitkin County. Photos courtesy Peter M. Dziuk taken in Anoka County.
Comments
Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?
on: 2008-06-09 23:52:04
I also saw this wildflower today (and took a picture of it) in Stearns County by the Mississippi River.
on: 2010-04-30 20:54:44
These are quite common out here in the prairie. I don't consider them to be that showy but they produce copious amounts of seed so the birds must rely on them. Z. aptera is also prevalent (and more photogenic), perhaps the web master can provide some examples.
on: 2010-05-01 03:31:20
Zizia aptera is on my list of things to do. :-)
on: 2012-05-24 17:38:25
There is a thick stand of zizia aurea blooming together with Canada anemone along the Minnesota River in Yellow Medicine County.
on: 2015-06-09 13:23:31
Thick stands of Golden Alexander blooming now on the 3M campus in Maplewood.
on: 2015-06-09 18:38:12
With the plentiful rain this spring, I had no idea what this plant was that appeared in my native prairie garden. Thank you for helping me to identify it. These plants are growing along the edge of my prairie garden with some shade of the oak trees.
on: 2015-08-25 14:09:34
Do not plant Golden Alexanders or let them get established in your garden. They are extremely aggressive and spread throughout the yard, crowding out desirable plants. They are also very hard to get rid of. I have been working on this for many years and am slowly prevailing. Alas, they have now appeared around our cabin in great numbers--they must have hitchhiked on shoes or socks. Now I have another major weed problem. They are often included in prairie seed mixes which I think is a very bad idea.
on: 2015-08-25 15:35:24
We have golden alexanders in our gardens and keep them in check by cutting off all the seed heads before fruit ripens (we do this with several other native species, too). GA is an important plant for spring pollinators so I would hesitate to get rid of it completely. Contrary to popular belief, a native plant garden is not maintenance free!
on: 2016-06-16 13:53:29
I love your site! I was concerned that what I spotted today at Bagley Nature Center on UMD campus might be wild parsnip. I took photos, compared them to photos on your site and carefully read the descriptions (especially the leaves). Now I think what I saw is Golden Alexanders. I'll leave it alone, just to be safe - but I definitely feel better about them!
on: 2017-02-11 12:37:32
A helpful side-by-side photo comparison on this Golden Alexanders page showing Wild Parsnip and Golden Alexanders would aid in teaching identification and avoidance of skin contact with WP. Stages of growth for both plants as you and Peter have done on the Wild Parsnip page --- spring emergence --- lower 12" of stem showing juvenile foliage --- stem with leaf arrangement --- floral display
on: 2017-06-20 11:51:03
Along highway right-of-way in moist and dry soils.
on: 2019-06-03 14:24:10
We have a small colony of golden alexander that popped up in our school native garden this spring.
on: 2019-06-07 15:04:21
I think this is what's started up in a damp, shady corner by a rain barrel. (It hasn't flowered yet so I don't have that to go by.) Assuming I've identified it correctly (and it isn't poisonous), will it crowd out the lily of the valley in that area? I've been working so hard to get the lilies to spread, I don't think I can afford any competition.
on: 2019-06-18 12:49:42
what is the native name for these beautiful plants
on: 2021-06-08 16:54:27
Here is a page that shows the differences between wild parsnip and golden alexanders. https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/news-events/the-buzz/what-difference-wild-parsnip-vs-golden-alexander
on: 2021-06-08 19:32:10
Kimberly, that page doesn't show the leaves, just a picture of the flowers, which isn't all that helpful.
on: 2023-06-11 01:20:21
I have a lot of this in a garden where I just planted a shady flower mix from Prairie Moon. I've seen how it proliferates, and I appreciate the note above stating that it's desirable to cut off the seeds before they can ripen. I also have seen at least one small specimen blooming in my Lawns to Legumes garden, which I am just starting this spring.