Seems like all the videos you make are of plants we are planning for our back yard or have planted already in our backyard. Awesome videos. Thanks for making them.
Thank you. I really appreciate it. Your's is one of the best comments I've ever received. I'll keep the plant profiles coming. Please forgive me if I make some non-plant/diy videos periodically!
I just learned of this plant and have added it to my "must have" list for my suburban garden. Thanks for the informative video - nice and right to the point 🙂
You will enjoy them. They seem to spread around a bit via self-seeding (I'm probably to blame for most of it). But if you just deadhead them when seeds are forming, then it is no problem.
update - we have split our 1/2 acre backyard into 2 micro-meadows, honey bee hives (ukranian style- Thanks to DR. LEO) and a 14x20 glass greenhouse(thanks to pandemic $). But it all started with your videos!
My local Audubon is supposed to have it this year but I decided to buy seeds after watching your video and grow it myself. I just started some seeds last night along with Joe Pye, Stiff Goldenrod, butterfly weed and common milkweed.
I would be broke if it weren't for seeds! Just wait - eventually you will start noticing other native plants in your area, along the road, abandoned fields, etc. Then you'll start harvesting your own seed and really save some cash. Good luck! I would like to know how the Joe Pye turns out for you. That is one seed that I've found really needs stratification to germinate.
Thanks for the informative video and article. My Golden Alexander is growing out sideways and then curves up. I propped it up against a rock to support it. The group of stems are almost shaped like a bowl. Did I plant this too shallow? If so, should I replant it deeper after the season is over? Also, when, if ever, should one prune Golden Alexander? Thanks!
Hi Jason - it could have been 'reaching' for the sun, and then figured it out. I've actually had that happen to multiple species of plants when they were young, or if they didn't have enough sun. I wouldn't replant it, it should come back thicker next year. For pruning, Golden Alexander can self-seed. So you may want to remove seed heads before they mature. I made the mistake of scattering a handful a few years ago, and now it is ok, but for a couple years I had a whole lot of Golden Alexander.
Funny store. I bought one 2 years ago & i didn't even know it was the native plant for the black swallowtail butterfly but late last fall (after we had a frost) i found one on it. Honestly i didn't know what it was & had to do a google search on it but yet it was a black swallowtail caterpillar. How awesome huh? I was going to ask if there was any way to propagate the plant but splitting it or anything like that. We probably want one it two other spots or is it best to just do it from seed? Thanks.....
Hi - I have never actually tried dividing these. They will easily grow from seed, even direct sown though. Just gather a couple handfuls and you will be good to go.
Hello, I have one of these which is in its second year and bloomed beautifully. I'm just wondering if I should deadhead the old blooms to produce more, or if it's too short-lived to have a second blooming?
Hi Julie - I never actually deadheaded Golden Alexander. I've removed seed heads before they dispersed, and there was no second round of blooming. But, deadheading immediately after blooming might promote a second bloom. I just haven't tried it myself.
@@growitbuildit Thank you! I missed that window! Last year at least my plant was able to host some very hungry black swallowtail caterpillars for the rest of the season, so I look forward to that :)
I'm planning to grow Golden Alexander. Can I just place seeds in the raised bed around December and put a dome over it ? instead of containers thereby being in location I want
Hi - in short, yes. You could probably just plant the seeds and not worry about covering it. You'll lose some seed to birds/rodents. But that is how it is normally planted in nature.
I just got seeds for this and am debating as to if I should plant in a container or in the ground. If I use a container what size is best? If in the ground should I plant them below the mulch in my flower bed? Is September a good month to plant? Thanks
I've always had better luck in ground. And September is perfectly fine for transplanting new plants. I plant perennials right up to December. For containers, the bigger, the better. Also, never let a container dry out with a tall perennial in it, as it will possibly tip over. Also, try not to let the container freeze solid for long periods of time, as that can kill the plant.
Does it need to be trimmed? Mine are two years old, have sporadic tall blooms, but the base is much shorter… wondering if I need to trim the blooms or just wait
Hi Michelle, that sounds about normal. I think the size depends more on conditions. I generally get about 3' tall plants. But some years the tall blooms seem to rise far above the primary foliage.
I've never seen seed for this plant, where did you purchase yours? I would definitely grow it if I could find the seeds. Thanks for sharing this video.
Hi, you can get it online from Ernst Seed or Prairie Moon Nursery. Here are a couple of links (no affilliate). Good luck! www.ernstseed.com/product/golden-alexanders-pa-ecotype/ www.prairiemoon.com/zizia-aurea-golden-alexanders-prairie-moon-nursery.html
I took a picture of something that came up in my yard. I would like to know if it is this plant or wild parsnip. It is May 17th and it is flowering. The leaves do not look like yours they are very green and rounder. I do not want to kill it if it is indeed golden alexander.
Hi Jeannine - it sounds like you might have Yellow Rocket. Here is an image of the leaves: external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ediblewildfood.com%2Fimages%2Fyellow-rocket-pictures%2Fyellow-rocket-leaves.jpg&f=1&nofb=1
Hi Gary. I've never divided them. It has fibrous roots, so probably could be divided. But if it bloomed, it should have seed. Please have a look here for what the seed and seed heads look like. It's about 3/4 of the way down the article. growitbuildit.com/golden-alexander-grow-and-care/
Ha - I have the same problem. It seems they really do prefer people's dill, fennel. I actually found one on some Wild Parsnip this summer (a horrible invasive). Sigh. Maybe next year.
You might be in an area where they are not common. They live more in the South (Virginia downwards) although I base this solely on experience, they are rare where I am further up north.
Hi Blazer - I just use a regular potting soil. If you want to buy premium, then ProMix is the absolute best. I tend to stay away from the really cheap ones though. Lots of sticks and not much pearlite.
Hi Luzvi - considering that this plant can self seed a bit, it is probably better not to introduce it to the UK. It may very well escape garden and become endemic.
Yes, absolutely. Another non-native plant around here that I've seen Swallowtail caterpillars on is Wild Parsnip. Not that you should allow Wild Parsnip to grow around you, just stating that they are using it as a host.
