Mendel’s Gardens

Zizia aurea

Golden Alexander · Golden Zizia

Family ApiaceaeGenus Zizia

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

Habit
Herbaceous perennialPlant Finder
Habit
Perennial, Forb/herbPLANTS Database
Height
1.5-3 ftPlant Finder
Spread
1.5-2 ftPlant Finder
Blooms
April to JunePlant Finder
Native range
Eastern Canada to southern United StatesPlant Finder
Native range
Canada, lower 48 statesPLANTS Database
Hardiness zones
3-8Plant Finder

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plant Finder — Missouri Botanical Garden; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS.

This source reports 4 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 21, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Gibberellic acid soak

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 15 days to germinate.

100% germination in 12–15 days.

GA-3 is the entire protocol: every seed with it, none at all without. A prior 3 months at 40 changed nothing, and the seedlings came up normal.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, ZiziaPublic domain
Show the original text
Zizia (Apiaceae); Z. aurea germ. 70D GA-3(100%in 12-15 d) and none in 70D and 70L. A prior 3 m at 40 had no effect. The seedlings were normal. Seeds DS 6 m at 70 germ. in the same pattern but the percent germination was reduced to 60%.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Zizia. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 17, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 16, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Gibberellic acid soak

  3. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 6 months from start to sowing. Germination time not stated; 21 days assumed.

60% germination.

The same pattern after six months dry at 70, and forty points worse for it. Sow this one fresh.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, ZiziaPublic domain
Show the original text
Zizia (Apiaceae); Z. aurea germ. 70D GA-3(100%in 12-15 d) and none in 70D and 70L. A prior 3 m at 40 had no effect. The seedlings were normal. Seeds DS 6 m at 70 germ. in the same pattern but the percent germination was reduced to 60%.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Zizia. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

    Nothing.

No stated waiting before sowing.

0% germination.

Nothing in the dark without GA-3.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, ZiziaPublic domain
Show the original text
Zizia (Apiaceae); Z. aurea germ. 70D GA-3(100%in 12-15 d) and none in 70D and 70L. A prior 3 m at 40 had no effect. The seedlings were normal. Seeds DS 6 m at 70 germ. in the same pattern but the percent germination was reduced to 60%.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Zizia. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

  1. Sow on the surface — do not cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

    Nothing.

No stated waiting before sowing.

0% germination.

Nothing in light either. Light is not what this one is missing.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, ZiziaPublic domain
Show the original text
Zizia (Apiaceae); Z. aurea germ. 70D GA-3(100%in 12-15 d) and none in 70D and 70L. A prior 3 m at 40 had no effect. The seedlings were normal. Seeds DS 6 m at 70 germ. in the same pattern but the percent germination was reduced to 60%.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Zizia. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record; the step names come from a fixed list.