Zizea aurea
Growing Information
• Plant Type: Perennial
• Sunlight: Prefers full sun to part shade.
• Soils: Moist to average moisture
• Bloom Time: Spring blossoms – April, May, June
• Size: 1-2 feet in height
Tolerates drier summer soils, provided it receives moist soils in early spring. In the carrot family, the plant is care-free, and is capable of self-pollination. It is an important early flowering plant for beneficial insects.
Garden Companions
Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis), Foxglove Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis), Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum)
Nature Benefits
• May host caterpillars of the Black Swallowtail butterfly
• Flowers are attractive to many kinds of insects seeking pollen or nectar, especially short-tongued bees, such as green metallic bees and andrenid bees, wasps, flies, and beetles. Other insects include valuable predator wasps, small butterflies, and long-tongued bumblebees.
Native Habitat
Occurs naturally in openings in moist to dry woodlands, areas along woodland paths and abandoned fields.