Zizia aurea, also known as golden Alexanders or golden zizia, is a beautiful and hardy flowering perennial forb that blooms from May to June. The plant produces stunning yellow flowers that are bunched at the top of the stem and leaves that are compound and odd-pinnate, with lanceolate or ovate leaflets that have serrated edges. This plant is most often found in moist prairies, woodland openings, savannas, thickets, glades, and along streams, and is able to survive dry summers despite preferring wet habitats. Zizia Aurea is a host plant for the caterpillars of the black swallowtail and the Ozark swallowtail butterflies, and its dry seedheads turn purple, adding summer interest. This plant is also a food source for the larvae of the Missouri woodland swallowtail butterfly. Golden Alexanders can be massed in open woodland or prairie areas, wild or native plant gardens, and it is a welcome addition to a tossed green salad or as a delicious cooked vegetable, similar to broccoli. With its beautiful blooms, valuable ecological role, and diverse uses, Zizia aurea is a great addition to any garden or natural area in USDA zones 4-9.