Golden Alexander Profile for Pennsylvania

Golden Alexander (Zizia aurea) is a low-growing perennial profiled by Penn State Extension for rain-garden conditions. It is a useful candidate to compare where a garden has moist soil, but the source does not establish county-level native range or performance in every clay site.

Site profile

Penn State reports a height of about 12–24 inches and light conditions from sun to partial shade. Its profile lists moist sandy or sandy-clay soil and wet-to-moist rain-garden zones. The plant can self-seed and form groundcover, so leave room for spread. Compacted clay and continuous standing water remain unverified conditions.

The profile identifies golden Alexander as a host for black swallowtail caterpillars and describes it as deer resistant. These are different fields: the host relationship is a wildlife use, while the browsing label is a relative tendency, not a guarantee.

Check local native range, drainage, and the source of nursery stock. Compare the site’s clay and browsing constraints with Pennsylvania groundcover options.

Illustrative host relationship only; it does not predict caterpillar presence or frequency at any site.