Common Name: Golden Alexanders

General Information

Zizia aurea is a herbaceous perennial lant producing a basal cluster of leaves and a central flowering stem up to 90cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Eastern N. America - Saskatchewan to Ontatio and Nova Scotia, south to Texas and Florida..

Habitat

Moist meadowland[]. Dry woods and rocky outcrops[]. Moist black soil prairies, openings in moist to mesic woodlands, savannahs, thickets, limestone glades and bluffs, power line clearings in woodland areas, and abandoned fields[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.75 m
Pollinators	LepidopteraInsects
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Requires a moist soil and a position in full sun[]. The plant prefers wet sites, but is very tolerant of dry conditions in the summer[].
Suitable for the wild garden and other informal plantings as well as collections of native wild flowers[].

Edible Uses

The flowers, with the main stem removed, are a welcome addition to a tossed green salad. They are also a delicious cooked vegetable when used in a similar manner to broccoli[].

Medicinal

A tea made from the root is febrifuge[, ]. The root is also believed to be vulnerary and hypnotic[].

The plant is used in homeopathy to treat conditions such as hysteria, epilepsy, chorea, hypochondriasis[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - it germinates well if given 90 days moist, cold stratification at 4°c prior to sowing in the spring. The resulting seedlings can be transplanted into containers by midsummer; and plants will be at flowering size by the following
spring[].