Leonard Weber

May 21, 2025

The season for enjoying the  field / prairie wildflowers in Eliza Howell Park is just beginning in the second half of May. Recently, for example, I saw the first Wild Lupine in bloom in 2025.

This year, the early field wildflower that has been catching much of my attention is Golden Alexander. It grows in small colonies, is about 1 – 2 feet high, and has yellow flowers in May and June.

Golden Alexander is found primarily in a wet soil area that was seeded with a prairie seed mix several years ago. It is a native plant that grows well in sunshine and is often included in such seed mixes.

It seems to be becoming more common in Eliza Howell Park;  at least, I am becoming more aware of it here. It has, however, been well known for centuries in the eastern half of (what is now known as) North America. Native Americans  used it medicinally (for example, to treat fever and to help heal wounds).

Golden Alexander is a member of the carrot plant family and, like other members of this family, is a host plant for the Black Swallowtail butterfly. This butterfly lays its eggs on the leaves of various carrot family plants; the caterpillars then feed on the leaves.

Black Swallowtails are quite common in Detroit and gardeners might find the caterpillars on their carrot or parsley plants. In the park, I have several times found them on Queen Anne’s Lace (sometimes called Wild Carrot). Now that Golden Alexander is spreading here, nature walkers might want to check the leaves of this plant for the next generation of Black Swallowtail.

The weather the last couple days has been cool and heavily overcast. When the sunshine returns, when the temperature rises, when the flowers open more fully, it will be time to check which pollinating insects are most attracted to the Golden Alexander small yellow flowers.

Golden Alexander is another addition to the flora and fauna that claim my attention during walks in the park.