Golden alexander is an adaptable perennial with sunny yellow flowers in flat clusters. This plant is often one of the first to bloom in the spring, providing important food for pollinators when most flowers have not yet emerged. Golden alexander is a host plant for the caterpillars of black swallowtail butterflies. Note: A very similar look-a-like is Wild Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa). It is an invasive, non-native plant containing poisonous compounds known to cause severe burns and blisters when exposed to sunlight. Wild parsnip grows to a height of 2-5 ft with 3-8 inch wide flower clusters and large compound leaves with 5 to 15 leaflets, whereas golden alexander grows to a height of 1-3 ft with 2-3 inch wide flower clusters and smaller compound leaves in groups of 3 leaflets.