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Goldenrods—Three Cultivars to Set Your Autumn Garden Ablaze

Plants & Gardens News Volume 13, Number 3 | Fall 1998

by Stephanie Cohen

Certain plants conjure pleasant memories of childhood. Remember that early spring haze of daffodils that always reminded you as a kid that winter was soon to end? Or the field of red poppies waving in the breeze that invited you to run through their wiry stems? Or the swath of white oxeye daisies begging to be picked for Mom on the way home from school?

Now here's an image that may raise the hackles on your neck. A beautiful fall day and a meadow ablaze with goldenrod. Wait! Don't stop now! Please read on! I know what you're thinking—that darn, pesky weed growing with abandon along roadsides across America, or, even worse, your next miserable allergy attack.

Goldenrod

Illustration by Stephen K-M. Tim

Let's set the record straight, once and for all. Despite their notorious reputation, goldenrods do not cause hay fever. The real culprit is ragweed, which often grows in the same areas as its more colorful cousin. Goldenrod has heavy pollen that falls to the ground; ragweed has light pollen that stays airborne, and can cause itchy, red, teary eyes; sneezing; and that proverbial stuffy nose.

Long ignored by American gardeners, goldenrods are finally gaining respect as solid citizens, thanks to several new cultivars—and research about allergies. Approximately 130 species of these vigorous bloomers are found in the Northern Hemisphere, with a large concentration native to the United States. These cold-hardy plants, which come in sizes from 2 inches to 10 feet, and hues from cream to deep mustard, can be grown in Zones 2 to 9. Most bloom from midsummer into autumn, providing a late-season lure for butterflies and gardeners in search of reliable fall color.

Now don't misunderstand. I'm not advocating transplanting goldenrod from a nearby field or roadside. Many of the species you see in the wild are quite aggressive. What I am recommending are clump-forming hybrid plants that know how to mind their manners and make good garden mates.

In many of the gardens I design, I use goldenrod to give late summer and fall gardens just the right autumnal color. Luckily for urban dwellers with limited gardening space, goldenrod also can be grown quite successfully in a container. Beautiful in the garden, goldenrod does double-duty as a long-lived cut flower. In Europe, where goldenrod has long been shown the appreciation it deserves, it is sold by the bunch, and gardening catalogs offer more cultivars than are available in the States.

Naturals for Naturalizing

Some good species for cottage gardens, naturalizing, or using in meadow plantings include:

Solidago speciosa (showy goldenrod) is only 2 to 3 feet tall. It begins flowering in early autumn with attractive plumes of blazing yellow. It will grow in medium to average soil to very dry sand.

Solidago rigida (stiff goldenrod) has flat-topped yellow flowers resembling those of a yarrow. It begins flowering in late summer to early fall. You can't miss it—it grows 3 to 5 feet tall, and the greenish yellow foliage makes a statement throughout the growing season. The plant is the delight of butterflies, and later in the season birds are drawn to its delicious seed. This one is great in a naturalistic garden or meadow.

Solidago sempervirens (seaside goldenrod) is a very tall plant that will grow 4 to 6 feet and tower over other plants. Its unusual flower features blooms on only one side of the stem. Seaside goldenrod is generally found on sand dunes where the plants combat soil erosion and is very useful in seaside plantings.

Solidago nemoralis (gray goldenrod) is 2 feet tall and rather short-lived. Don't despair, as it has the propensity to self-sow. This goldenrod has a graceful arching habit. It's also a tough customer, withstanding poor, dry sandy soil as well as clay soils.

To get you started in what I know will become a lifelong love affair with goldenrod, I suggest the following cultivars:

Goldenrods are not fussy. They prefer full sun and will grow in almost any soil, although they do better in good garden loam with adequate drainage. Another plus is that most goldenrods are drought-resistant and need little supplemental watering once established.

There are two caveats when it comes to goldenrods. First, be careful not to over-fertilize your plants. Too much food promotes rapid growth, encouraging your plants to become garden thugs. Just leave them alone to grow, and divide every two or three years as needed. Second, the only down side of planting goldenrods is that they are susceptible to rust, a fungal disease of the leaves. Make sure to give them good air circulation, including the bottoms of the plants, and provide adequate light and a very well-drained soil. This will keep disease problems to a minimum.

All goldenrod cultivars can be propagated by simple division or cuttings. It is best to divide goldenrods in late spring or early summer so they flower before it frosts. Species goldenrods can be propagated by seed in warm, humid conditions.

Now you can judge for yourself why goldenrod should be added to your plant palette. It's beautiful. It reigns as a good cut flower. It's not a health hazard. And the trio I've suggested will not strangle their neighbors, and are indeed quite well mannered. If the name still conjures up memories of allergy attacks in the past, just call them Autumnal Golden Glories. And remember, stay away from ragweed.

Goldenrods at BBG

At BBG, you can see goldenrods in all their autumnal splendor growing in the Plant Family Collection and the Native Flora Garden. Visit these collections on the Web with BBG's Virtual Garden Stroll.

Where to Buy Goldenrods

Native Gardens
5737 Fisher Lane
Greenback, TN 37742
(423) 856-0220
Niche Gardens
1111 Dawson Road
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 967-0078
Prairie Moon Nursery
Rt. 3, Box 163
Winona, MN 55987
(507) 452-1362
(423) 856-0220
Prairie Nursery, Inc.
PO Box 306
Westfield, WI 53964-0306
(608) 296-3679
We-Du Nurseries
Rt. 5 Box 274
Marion, NC 28752-9338
(704) 738-8300
(423) 856-0220
Wild Earth Native Plants
P.O. Box 7258
Freehold, NJ 07728
(732) 308-9777

She bills herself as the "vertically challenged gardener," but Stephanie Cohen more than makes up for her lack of stature with personality and energy. A garden designer, lecturer, and writer, Stephanie's articles have appeared in American Nurseryman, Country Living Gardener, and Fine Gardening magazines. Her book credits include Perennial Gardening for the Mid-Atlantic Region and The Best of Fine Gardening.