Zizia trifoliata, commonly known as Meadow Alexanders, is a perennial herb native to a wide range of habitats across eastern North America, including moist meadows, open woodlands, and floodplain forests. It typically grows to a height of 1-3 feet (0.3-0.9 meters) and spreads about the same in width. Meadow Alexanders features compound leaves divided into three broad leaflets and bears small, yellow flowers in flat-topped clusters, which are quite showy in late spring to early summer. The plant’s appearance is characterized by its upright form and the presence of these distinctive flower clusters.

Meadow Alexanders is valued for its ease of maintenance and its ability to attract beneficial insects, including pollinators like bees and butterflies. It is often used in native plant gardens, pollinator gardens, and as part of naturalized areas. This plant prefers full sun to part shade and moist, well-drained soils, but it can tolerate a range of soil conditions. It is not known for any significant problems with diseases or pests, and it does not have aggressive roots. However, it is important to note that while it is not typically invasive, it can self-seed in ideal growing conditions.CC BY-SA 4.0