September 6, 2024
Master Gardeners are really gracious about sharing plants! Have you ever, at some point in your garden journey, heard about a particular plant but couldn’t seem to find it? Or have you visited a friend’s garden and then dreamed about creating a similar look? Consider this, your greatest resource might be a master gardener!
At the Raincatcher’s Garden plant sale this past May, I just happened to mention something about a certain plant that would be a nice addition to my garden. Finding it had been problematic. Fortunately, another master gardener overheard my comments and spoke up. Master Gardener Linda Seidel smiled and told me that she had an abundance of it in her garden. And, at that very moment, she offered to make a quick trip to her house, dig some up and bring it back to me.
You may be wondering, why all the fuss about a plant? Well, it was the plant’s name that first piqued my interest a few years ago. If your last name was Alexander, wouldn’t you want the wildflower Golden Alexander growing in your garden, as well? Even the description sounds enticing – “a tough native that lights up the spring garden with its bright yellow flowers that attract pollinators.”
They were planted in an area of my garden that receives morning to mid-day sun and afternoon dappled shade. And then, a few months later, something unfortunate happened. Our weekly yard crew had a new person working with them. His job was to help with pulling weeds. And, as you’ve probably guessed by now, he unknowingly pulled up all three of my carefully managed Golden Alexander plants. The crew was already on their way to the next job before I even noticed.
Disappointed and somewhat embarrassed by the mistake, I sent a text to Linda explaining the situation. She assured me that it would be no problem to replace them. I was so relieved at her response and can happily say that I am now the proud owner of three new plants. As you can see from the photo, they have been planted, labeled and identified. Yard guys, beware, these plants are not to be removed!
Golden Alexander is an herbaceous, short-lived perennial in the carrot family. It has a yellow flat top cluster flower, similar to the lacy, umbrella-shaped flowers on dill, wild parsnip and Queen Anne’s Lace. The flowers are attractive to a variety of butterflies, native bees, bumble bees and honeybees. It serves as the primary larval host for the Black Swallowtail Butterfly.
General Information
Botanical Name – Zizia aurea
Common Name – Golden Alexanders
Family – Apiaceae
USDA Zone – 3 thru 8
Light Requirement – Full Sun to Part Shade
Height and Spread – 1.5-3ft x 1.5-2ft
Flower Color – Yellow
Soil Type – Loamy, clay
Bloom Time – April – June
Linda Seidel shares growing information below:
“Everyone needs a Golden Alexander,” a volunteer told me at a Native Plant Society of Texas plant sale. I’d never heard of the plant, but if everyone needs one, I’ll take one. I planted it near the top of my hillside pollinator garden where it would get morning sun and dappled shade of a crabapple tree in the afternoon. It does fine in my mostly clay soil which drains well on the hillside. It doesn’t seem to need fertilizer. It gets watered twice a week along with the rest of the garden. I would not say it is a drought tolerant plant, but even with our super-hot summer days the foliage has not burned since it is shaded in the afternoon. It provides a lovely dark green, soft textured background in the garden. Pollinators love the yellow flower clusters. Birds love the seeds. And speaking of seeds, Golden Alexander spreads its seeds prolifically. If you don’t want lots of little Golden Alexanders next spring, spend some time deadheading, before the seed heads have a chance to pop open. I now know why the plant sale volunteer told me I only needed one Golden Alexander!
Next May at the 2025 Raincatcher’s Garden Plant Sale, we plan to have Golden Alexander plants potted and ready for purchase. Come take a look!
Linda Alexander, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008
Are you looking for a plant sale this fall? Texas Discovery Gardens Pollinator Plant Sale is Friday, September 13-Sunday, September 15.
DALLAS GARDEN BUZZ 