Herb: Golden Alexanders


Latin name: Zizia aurea


Family: Umbelliferae



Medicinal use of Golden Alexanders:

A tea made from the root is febrifuge. The root is also believed to be vulnerary and hypnotic.

Description of the plant:



Plant:
Perennial


Height:
75 cm
(2 feet)

Flowering:
May to
June

Habitat of the herb:

Moist meadowland. Dry woods and rocky outcrops. Low woods in Texas.

Edible parts of Golden Alexanders:

The flowers, with the main stem removed, are a welcome addition to a tossed green salad. They are also a delicious cooked vegetable when used in a similar manner to broccoli.

Propagation of the herb:

Seed - we have no information for this species but it is probably best sown in spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.

Cultivation of Golden Alexanders:

Moist meadowland. Dry woods and rocky outcrops. Low woods in Texas.

Known hazards of Zizia aurea:

There is a report that the root might be toxic.

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.