Are you having to deal with pests such as aphids on your citrus trees? These sap-sucking insects are particularly attracted to lush and tender new growth and take all the goodness out of it, resulting in damage to new buds and less fruit. Worse, still, is the sticky residue they excrete known as honeydew, which in turn attracts ants and results in unsightly black sooty mold on healthy leaves. While you can get rid of these pests by spraying your trees with horticultural oil or insecticidal soap, constant application is necessary for effective control. So, why not let nature’s own predators help by attracting them to your yard with a colorful flower you can grow as a companion plant for your citrus trees? Golden alexander (Zizia aurea) is a low-growing perennial that produces large umbels of bright yellow flowers that ladybugs love. That means good news for your citrus trees.

Ladybugs are one of the best predators when it comes to aphids. Both the adults and their nymphs feed on the pests and help to keep them well under control. Apart from aphids, ladybugs are also fond of mealybugs, mites, thrips, and whiteflies. So, the more you can do to attract these useful insects to your yard, the healthier your fruit trees are going to be. That’s just one more reason why you should consider using ladybug larvae in your garden.

Golden alexander is a wildflower native to eastern North America, and it thrives in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 8. Apart from attracting ladybugs, you’ll find that this hummingbird-favorite flower will bring all kinds of pollinators to your yard, including bees and butterflies. Plus, the plant is a larval host for the black swallowtail butterfly. All in all, it really does make a very useful companion for your citrus trees. You can plant it in full sun, but it also grows well under the light shade of your fruit trees. Ideally, this wildflower prefers moist, well-drained soil, which is similar to the conditions your trees enjoy. It grows to a height and spread of around 1 to 2 feet, which is just the ideal height for under-tree planting.

You can grow golden alexander from seeds, which need cold stratification for effective germinating, so sowing them in the fall is best. But for plants grown from seed, you’ll have to wait for three years to see flowers. In this case, it might be easier to grab some plugs, as these will flower in their second year. Once you have this planted in your garden, it can self-seed, so you may find new plants coming up in the spring from seeds that are sitting in the soil. To add even more benefits and help your trees thrive, you might like to explore other herbs and flowers you should grow alongside citrus trees in the garden.