More Yellow-Flowered Parsley Family Native Alternatives:
MEADOW PARSNIP. Genus: Thaspium (T. trifoliatum); PRAIRIE PARSLEY, p. 201; YELLOW PIMPERNEL. Genus: Taenidia (T. integerrima). Note: See Thomas Nuttall note in the appendix.
Golden alexanders (Zizia aurea)
White-Flowered Parsley Family Native Alternatives:
PURPLESTEM ANGELICA. Genus: Angelica (A. atropurpurea). Height: 2–7 feet. Ornamental Attributes: Large, flat white flower heads May, June. Conspicuous seed heads. Purple stems. Divided foliage turns colorful in fall. Cultivation: Sun/light shade. Average garden soil; HAIRY ANGELICA (A. venenosa); SWEET CICELY, p. 49; Summer bloomers: MARYLAND BLACK SNAKEROOT, p. 154; COW PARSNIP, p. 154; RATTLESNAKE MASTER, p. 122. Nature Note: The Parsley family is the sole host for the Missouri/Ozark woodland swallowtail (Papilio joanae), whose larvae have been found on meadow parsnip, yellow pimpernel, and golden alexander, and the parsnip or black or eastern black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes). Swallowtails produce two or three broods, and any pupae that overwinter on or near Parsley family foliage emerge as adults in April and May. A variety of native Carrot/Parsley species extends the breeding season for these butterflies. Leaving the host plants in place through spring enables any overwintering pupae to survive. Blooms of plants in the Parsley family attract adult butterflies like the pearl crescent (Phyciodes tharos), eastern tailed-blue (Everes comyntas), American copper (Lycaena phlaeas), and clouded sulphur (Colias philodice). The inconspicuous tiny black bee Andrena ziziae is a golden alexander specialist. Nonnative Invasive Note: Do not confuse native Parsley family flowers with the nonnative yellow wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa) or white Queen Anne’s lace (Dacus carota), both invasive in the Midwest. Do not confuse native angelicas with European garden angelica (A. archangelica) or Japanese angelica (A. elata), both invasive in parts of the Midwest. Dill, Parsley, and Fennel are also nonnatives that are invasive in parts of the Midwest.
Purplestem angelica (Angelica atropurpurea)
Ozark swallowtail (Papilio joanae)
American copper (Lycaena phlaeas)
Eastern tailed-blue (Everes comyntas)
Pearl crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
black swallowtail with larva and pupa (Papilio polyxenes)
clouded sulphur (Colias philodice)
More Native Alternatives:
GOLDEN RAGWORT. Family: Aster (Asteraceae). Genus: Senecio, Packera (S. aureus or P. aurea); PRAIRIE RAGWORT (S. or P. plattensis). Height: 1–3 feet. Ornamental Attributes: “The Golden ragwort stands as a surprise and an astonishment among the flowers of early spring, it is so deeply, so goldenly yellow.”37 One-inch blooms May to July. Slowly creates colonies. Cultivation: Sun/light shade. Golden Ragwort is more shade tolerant than some other ragwort species. Wet, medium, or dry soil. Hay Fever Note: Ragwort is not ragweed and does not cause hay fever. Nature Note: Some ragwort species host the northern metalmark butterfly (lephelisca borealis). Pollinators include beneficial flies (syrphid flies, tachinid flies, thick-headed flies) and small bees such as little carpenter, nomadine cuckoo, green metallic, and other halictine bees. Golden ragwort hosts the “gem” moth (Orthonama obstipata). Mammalian herbivores usually don’t bother this plant.
YELLOW STARGRASS, COMMON GOLDSTAR. Family: Lily (Liliaceae). Some experts place this flower in the Daffodil family (Amaryllidaceae). Genus: Hypoxis (H. hirsuta). Height: 3–12 inches. Ornamental Attributes: Clusters of “bright yellow six-pointed starry flowers, greenish on the undersides are hardly ever out of bloom from . . . May until the frosts have silenced them.”38 This reliable perennial has grass-like leaves. Cultivation: Sun/light shade. Well-drained average garden soil. Nature Note: This flower is cross-pollinated by small female pollen-collecting bees, interesting and beneficial flies, and pollen-feeding beetles.
Golden ragwort (Packera aurea)
Yellow stargrass (Hypoxis hirsuta)
WOOD BETONY, CANADIAN LOUSEWORT. Family: Snapdragon/Figwort (Scrophulariaceae). Genus: Pedicularis (P. canadensis). Height: 5–18 inches. Ornamental Attributes: Dense clusters of striking inchlong tubular hooded yellow or red (or sometimes both) blooms from April to June. Green fern-like long-lasting leaves. Cultivation: Sun, light shade. Dry or welldrained average garden soil. Native American Note: Some tribes used this plant for love charms.39 Nature Note: The primary pollinators are long-tongued bees, including queen bumblebees and mason bees. Shorttongued bees collect pollen from the flowers.
Wood betony (Pedicularis canadensis)
HOARY PUCCOON. Family: Forget-me-not, Borage (Boraginaceae). Genus: Lithospermum (L. canescens). Height: 6–18 inches. Ornamental Attributes: Dense clusters of bright yellow to deep orange flowers April to June. Gray-green, white-down-covered leaves. Cultivation: Sun. Dry or medium soil. Native American Note: Natives extracted red dye from the roots of this “most famous of the Indian puccoons (dye plants).”40 Nature Note: “Hoary puccoon is the primary nectar source for spring grassland skippers like the cobweb skipper (Hesperia metea),”41 whose hosts are little and big bluestem grasses. It also attracts dusted skipper (Atrytonopsis hianna), which lays her eggs on big bluestem grass and spends the winter there. Hoary puccoon attracts butterflies,
