Deno’s GardenMy Garden

Zizia aurea

Golden Alexander · Golden Alexanders · Golden Zizia

Family ApiaceaeGenus Zizia

A domed head of tiny yellow flowers on branching green stalks, above sharply toothed leaves.
FlowerPhoto by David J. StangCC BY-SA 4.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Herbaceous perennialPlant Finder
Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Height
1.5-3 ft45-90 cmPlant Finder
Spread
1.5-2 ft45-60 cmPlant Finder
Flower
Gold/YellowExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
April to JunePlant Finder
Native range
Eastern Canada to southern United StatesPlant Finder
Hardiness zones
3-8Plant Finder

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally Dry, Occasionally WetExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plant Finder — Missouri Botanical Garden; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension.

Worth knowing

This source reports 4 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 21, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Gibberellic acid soak

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 15 days to germinate.

100% germination in 12–15 days.

GA-3 is the entire protocol: every seed with it, none at all without. A prior 3 months at 40 changed nothing, and the seedlings came up normal.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, ZiziaPublic domain
Show the original text
Zizia (Apiaceae); Z. aurea germ. 70D GA-3(100%in 12-15 d) and none in 70D and 70L. A prior 3 m at 40 had no effect. The seedlings were normal. Seeds DS 6 m at 70 germ. in the same pattern but the percent germination was reduced to 60%.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Zizia. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 17, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 16, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Gibberellic acid soak

  3. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 6 months from start to sowing. Germination time not stated; 21 days assumed.

60% germination.

The same pattern after six months dry at 70, and forty points worse for it. Sow this one fresh.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, ZiziaPublic domain
Show the original text
Zizia (Apiaceae); Z. aurea germ. 70D GA-3(100%in 12-15 d) and none in 70D and 70L. A prior 3 m at 40 had no effect. The seedlings were normal. Seeds DS 6 m at 70 germ. in the same pattern but the percent germination was reduced to 60%.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Zizia. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

    Nothing.

No stated waiting before sowing.

0% germination.

Nothing in the dark without GA-3.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, ZiziaPublic domain
Show the original text
Zizia (Apiaceae); Z. aurea germ. 70D GA-3(100%in 12-15 d) and none in 70D and 70L. A prior 3 m at 40 had no effect. The seedlings were normal. Seeds DS 6 m at 70 germ. in the same pattern but the percent germination was reduced to 60%.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Zizia. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

  1. Sow on the surface — do not cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

    Nothing.

No stated waiting before sowing.

0% germination.

Nothing in light either. Light is not what this one is missing.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, ZiziaPublic domain
Show the original text
Zizia (Apiaceae); Z. aurea germ. 70D GA-3(100%in 12-15 d) and none in 70D and 70L. A prior 3 m at 40 had no effect. The seedlings were normal. Seeds DS 6 m at 70 germ. in the same pattern but the percent germination was reduced to 60%.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Zizia. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

Add to My Garden

View species page