Glorious Goldenrods the Species
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GOLDENROD FLOWERS Goldenrods have composite flowers called heads, which consist of a cen- tral disk and a sparse whorl of marginal The flowers of early goldenrod (S. juncea) fall into the tree-branched category. rays. Peterson’s Field Guide to Eastern Wildflowers groups goldenrods based on the shape of the inflorescence, and I think this is a useful tool for organizing Glorious Goldenrods the species. The main categories are plume, tree or elm-branched, clublike, wandlike, and flat-topped. The plumed The opulent fall display of rough-stemmed goldenrod (S. rugosa) flowers is presaged by a inflorescences are the most familiar. shimmering chartreuse haze of buds. This rugged plant grows one to five feet tall. They have branched, often one-sided pyramidal clusters with flowers gath- Colorful mainstays of the HE WANING DAYS of summer in Virginia, where I live, bring meadows goldenrods attract a phenomenal array of GOOD CHOICES FOR THE GARDEN ered on the upper side of the branch- awash with the effervescent yellows of goldenrods (Solidago spp.). A roadside pollinators,” says Neil Diboll of Prairie Few perennials are as easy to grow as gold- es. The wand-flowered species have garden from midsummer into Tstroll with a good wildflower identification guide in hand can easily turn Nursery in Westfield, Wisconsin. “The enrods. All tolerate a wide range of soil pH narrow, branched panicles with small up 10 species. This scene is repeated across North America as the brilliant cadmium flowers are absolutely abuzz throughout and moisture conditions, and once estab- leaves or leaflike bracts throughout the fall, goldenrods also set the yellow flowers of the 100 or so native species come into bloom. the day with bees, butterflies, beneficial lished, they withstand drought. Most spe- inflorescence along the nodes. —C.C.B. table for a diverse array of Goldenrods are members of the aster family (Asteraceae), and the bulk of the world’s parasitic wasps, beetles, innocuous flies, cies perform best in full sun or light shade, species are native to North America, with the largest concentration east of the Rocky beetles, and a multitude of other flower but in the following descriptions of rec- pollinators and other wildlife. Mountains. The name Solidago, which translates from Latin roughly as “make whole,” visitors.” ommended species and selections, I have ing in July—long before you expect to see a acknowledges the genus’s long history of medicinal uses. It has been used to treat a Beauty, variety, and wildlife val- included two that will thrive in a partly goldenrod in flower. Showy tree-shaped in- variety of ailments ranging from snakebites to bee stings, sore throats, stomach aches, ue notwithstanding, some goldenrods shaded site. Several additional choices are florescences with drooping branches crown BY C. COLSTON BURRELL bleeding, and kidney stones. A beautiful yellow dye is also derived from the flowers. spread too aggressively via rhizomes— included in the chart on page 34. one- to three-foot-tall leafy red stems. Plants For gardeners, goldenrods’ primary allure is their late flowering season, helping bridge underground stems—to be good garden As is the case with many plant groups, form tufted basal rosettes of smooth, deep the color void from summer into fall. They are also long-lasting cut flowers. Numerous citizens. “American goldenrods present nomenclatural changes have resulted in a green, slightly toothed leaves. One distinc- goldenrods are eminently gardenworthy, yet only a few species have made it into main- a definite love–hate relationship,” Di- few species being reassigned to different tive feature of this species is small tufts of stream horticulture, partly because of a case of mistaken identity. Unfounded fears that boll acknowledges. “A few are thugs that genera; these are shown with both the new leaves that form in the axils of the stem leaves. the plant’s pollen causes hay fever have kept American gardeners at arm’s length, when should be avoided.” Among these are and former names. Mature plants form open leafy clumps with the true culprit is ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), an annual that shares the wild places Canada goldenrod (Solidago canaden- many stems radiating from the center. Early The late-summer and fall blooms of showy favored by goldenrods. The airborne pollen of ragweed is a potent allergen. Goldenrods sis), tall goldenrod (S. altissima), flat-top n GOLDENRODS FOR SUN goldenrod’s native habitat comprises mead- goldenrod (Solidago speciosa) offer color are insect-pollinated, so pollen must be dispersed with the help of an insect. goldentop (Euthamia graminifolia, syn. Early goldenrod (S. juncea, USDA Hardi- ows, savannas, open woods, and seashores for gardeners and food for pollinators such The renewed interest in supporting pollinators has encouraged gardeners and plant S. graminifolia), and giant goldenrod (S. ness Zones 3–8, AHS Heat Zones 8–1) is from Nova Scotia and Minnesota south to as this painted lady butterfly. breeders to take a second look at the beauty and diversity of goldenrods. “All the JANET DAVIS LEFT: DOREEN WYNJA. RIGHT: MARK TURNER gigantea). the first species to bloom—often appear- Georgia and Missouri. 30 the American Gardener July / August 2018 31 Gray goldenrod (S. nemoralis, Zones 2–9, 9–1) is a delicate yet sophisticated Sources species with tufts of soft-hairy, elongated High Country Gardens, Shelburne, VT. gray-green leaves in tidy clumps. The leafy www.highcountrygardens.com. flower stalks are crowned with elongated, Pine Ridge Gardens, London, AR. narrow, one-sided flower plumes. Plants www.pineridgegardens.com. are quite variable in size, ranging from on- Plant Delights Nursery, Raleigh, NC. ly six inches tall on poor dry sites, to up to www.plantdelights.com. two feet in rich moist soil. Mature clumps Prairie Nursery, Westfield, WI. are tough as nails, tolerating winter snow www.prairienursery.com. and salt, summer drought, and occasional Yerba Buena Nursery, Half Moon Bay, dog stops. This species is native to mead- CA. www.yerbabuenanursery.com. ows, prairies, open woods, roadsides, and eroded slopes from Nova Scotia and Al- berta, south to Florida and Texas. Resources Sweet goldenrod (S. odora, Zones 3–9, An Evaluation Report of Goldenrods for 9–1) is an upright, two- to five-foot-tall the Garden by Richard G. Hawke, species with wiry black to ruddy stems Plant Evaluation Notes Issue 15, sparsely clothed in smooth, lance-shaped Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, IL. foliage. The stems are crowned with open, 2000. www.chicagobotanic.org/ one-sided, treelike flower clusters from July downloads/planteval_notes/no15_ to September. “The foliage is anise-scented, goldenrods.pdf. and the plant as a whole is clump-forming The Living Landscape by Rick Darke and well-behaved,” says Mary Ann King of and Doug Tallamy. Timber Press, Pine Ridge Gardens in London, Arkansas. Portland, OR, 2014. Grow this goldenrod in relatively lean soil Native Plants of the Southeast: A Compre- because plants are inclined to flop if the soil Stiff goldenrod (Oligoneuron rigidum, syn. S. rigida) is distinguished by flat-topped flowerheads. hensive Guide to the Best 460 Species is too rich. It is found in dry, open woods, for the Garden by Larry Mellichamp. meadows, and dunes from Vermont and “Resources,” page 33). The species grows a memorable sight on coastal dunes. The Timber Press, Portland, OR, 2014. Ontario, south to Florida and Texas. wild in open woods, meadows, and fallow showy, one-sided plumes have large flowers The New England Wild Flower Society The flattened inflorescences of stiff fields from Newfoundland and Michigan, with straplike rays. Smooth, spatula-shaped Guide to Growing and Propagating goldenrod (Oligoneuron rigidum, syn. S. south to Florida and Texas. basal leaves form decorative clumps, while Wildflowers of the United States rigida, Zones 3–9, 9–1) give it a lovely, Statuesque wands of seaside golden- lance-shaped stem leaves ascend the one- and Canada by William Cullina. distinctive appearance. The broad and rod (S. sempervirens, Zones 4–11, 10–4) are and-a-half to eight-foot-tall stems. This spe- Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Boston, gently mounded flower clusters rise on MA, 2000. two- to five-foot-tall stems, creating a Perennial Combinations (revised brilliant yellow display in late summer. edition) by C. Colston Burrell. Mature plants form dense tufts of fuzzy ‘Solar Cascade’ goldenrod’s arching stems pair well with ‘North Wind’ switch grass (Panicum Rodale Books, Emmaus, PA, 2008. basal and stem leaves. These are gray- virgatum) in this garden vignette that also includes obedient plant (Physostegia virginiana). green in summer and turn dusty rose in autumn. This striking plant is native to cies thrives on adversity. When robbed of its lemon-yellow flowers on one- to two- rescence is nearly as attractive in bud as dry or moist prairies, meadows, clear- poor sandy soil and salt spray, it will gorge on foot-tall stems from late summer into fall. it is in flower. Copious brilliant yellow ings, and roadsides from Connecticut to nitrogen and flop over like Bacchus after an Trim stems back to four inches in May to flowers open in August and September Saskatchewan and south to Georgia and orgy. Plant them in lean, well-drained soil in promote a more compact growth habit. In and last for many weeks. The species is New Mexico. full sun to keep them looking their best. Na- the wild, Short’s goldenrod is restricted to found in open rocky woods, clearings, The flower buds of rough-stemmed gold- tive to coastal dunes and open woods from a handful of isolated populations on rocky, and roadsides in limy soils from Vir- enrod (S. rugosa, Zones 4–9, 9–1) produce an Newfoundland to Florida and Texas, south limestone sites in Kentucky and Indiana.