Golden Zizia
Zizia aurea
- Native to:
- Canada, United States
Photo by and (c)2007 Derek Ramsey ( Ram-Man (en.wikipedia.org) )
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Apiaceae
- Genus:
- Zizia
- Species:
- Zizia aurea
- USDA Symbol:
- ZIAU
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 90 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun,Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may,jun
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Agonopterix clemensella, common eupithecia (Eupithecia miserulata), Rigid Borer Moth (Papaipema rigida), Ozark Swallowtail (Papilio joanae)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Black and (Bombus auricomus), Brown-belted bumble (Bombus griseocollis), Common eastern (Bombus impatiens), Eastern Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa virginica), Half-black bumble (Bombus vagans), Nomada Scopoli, Two-spotted bumble (Bombus bimaculatus), ⚠️Western honey bee (Apis mellifera) Moths:Epermenia pimpinella Butterflies:Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies, beneficial insects, birds
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from rootstock following fire; commonly found in fire-maintained prairies and savannas.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- prefers floodplains and moist meadows
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–60 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require cold-moist stratification; germination can be erratic. Fresh seed germinates best.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Field seed is planted in the fall and is not put into cold storage. If unable to plant in the fall, store the seed dry in cold storage at 34-36 degrees F. Field seed is not damp stratified due to clumping problems.
Source: npn.rngr.net
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Sow @ 4C for 3 weeks, then place @ 20C.