An herbaceous perennial wildflower with upright, branching stems and flat topped clusters of long-blooming, bright yellow flowers followed by attractive, deep plum seed heads. The glossy, pinnate leaves are typical of a member of the carrot family and complement the golden umbels above. A great short-lived perennial naturaliser and early season nectar source for butterflies and bees, Zizia aurea spreads happily by seed to form large patches to give your cottage, informal, or prairie inspired wild garden a real early season boost.
How to care for Zizia aurea:
Zizia may need staking - particularly in more exposed positions. Avoid cutting back some of the flowers before they have had a chance to set seed if you want them to proliferate the following year.
Flowering period:
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Eventual height:
1m
Eventual spread:
0.5m
Position:
Full sun / light shade
Rate of growth:
Fast-growing
Soil:
Peat-free general-purpose compost
-
This perennial dies back to below ground level each year in autumn, then fresh new growth appears again in spring.