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. ginia and Indiana south to Georgia and attractive, chartreuse haze in advance of its to tropical America. ‘Golden Fleece’, a selection of creeping Alabama. spectacular bright and clear, multibranched One of the newest goldenrods to make goldenrod (S. sphacelata, Zones 4–9, 9–1) The substantial wands of showy gold- yellow flowers, which bloom between Sep- the rounds is ‘Solar Cascade’ (Zones has become a garden mainstay since its enrod (S. speciosa, Zones 3–8, 8–1) add tember and November on leafy stems one to 6–9, 9–1). This attractive selection of introduction by the Mount Cuba Center dramatic bright yellow exclamation points five feet tall. “This species is so tough, so har- Short’s goldenrod (S. shortii), a Federally in Hockessin, Delaware, in 1989. Trail- to the garden in August and September. dy, it will grow in almost any type of soil,” Endangered species, was developed and ing stems with deep green, paddle-shaped It gets its name from the alluring, erect, says King. A selection called ‘Fireworks’, released by the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical leaves sport foot-tall inflorescences with clublike inflorescences, which are gathered notable for its eye-catching flower clusters, Garden in an effort to conserve the species. stiff, horizontal, treelike branches. The into dense, multistemmed clumps. The emerged as the top-rated selection in a trial For perfect color harmony, it’s hard to beat this combination of ‘Golden Fleece’ goldenrod and A civilized clump-former, ‘Solar Cascade’ clumps spread slowly to produce a two- to three-foot-tall stems, tinged with

at the Chicago Botanic Garden in 2000 (see ‘October Skies’ aromatic aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium) at the New York Botanical Garden. TOP: NANCY J. ONDRA. BOTTOM: KAREN BUSSOLINI KAREN BUSSOLINI bears arching panicles of small bright well-mannered groundcover. The inflo- deep red, are cloaked in stiff, bright green,

32 the American Gardener July / August 2018 33 bog goldenrod mingle beautifully with MAINTENANCE TIPS MORE GARDENWORTHY GOLDENRODS the bold colors of purple coneflow- Cut back the stems of tall or lax-stemmed Name Height/ Characteristics Origin USDA Hardiness, er (Echinacea purpurea), garden phlox species to four inches in late spring to Spread AHS Heat Zones (Phlox paniculata), turtlehead (Chelone promote shorter, more upright growth. Solidago bicolor 1–3/1 ft. Elongated spikes of short-stalked flower heads Eastern North 3–8, 8–1 lyonii), and perennial sunflowers (Heli- Clump-forming selections should be divid- (silverrod) with distinctive white to yellowish-white rays America except anthus spp.). Later-blooming selections ed every three years or so to prevent central surrounding a yellow central disk atop a hairy, Florida such as ‘Fireworks’ or California golden- dieback and keep them from outgrowing thin, wiry, grayish stem. rod look best surrounded by a tumble of their space. Leave at least some of the seed- Solidago curtisii 1–2½/3 ft. Leafy wandlike flowerheads. Bright green leaves Mid-Atlantic and 5–8, 8–1 rich purple asters and backed by a screen heads on the plants through winter, because (mountain or Curtis’ ascend the stem to the base of the inflorescence. Southeast U.S. of dusty rose Joe-pye weed (Eutrochium these will provide food for birds. goldenrod) Smaller leaves subtend each flower cluster. purpureum). Sprawling low-risers such as The autumn glow of goldenrods warms Solidago ‘Little Lemon’ 6–12/ Compact hybrid for the front of the border and edging, Hybrid 5–9, 9–1 ‘Golden Fleece’ are best placed near the my garden in the slanting light that sig- 12–24 in. with treelike heads of clear yellow, early flowers. front of a border along with plants such nals the passing of the growing season. Solidago multiradiata 6–24/ Elongated, dense wand of showy flowers and Montana west to 3–8, 8–1 as calamint (Calamintha nepeta ‘White Soon, frost will decorate the delicate dried (alpine goldenrod) 12–24 in. lanceolate to spatulate leaves up to 8 inches long; coast, south to Cloud’), purple spotted toad lilies (Tri- plumes, and silvery seeds will float on the height varies with site conditions. New Mexico Solidago puberula 2–3/1–2 ft. Flowers, among the largest in the genus, are Eastern North 4–9, 9–1 (downy goldenrod) clustered to form dense, tubular, bottlebrushlike America Unlike most goldenrods, wreath goldenrod yellow spikes. prefers dappled woodland shade. Solidago riddellii 2–3½/ Tiny, bright yellow flowers borne in dense, erect, Northern North 3–7, 7–1 (Riddell’s goldenrod) 1–2 ft. flat-topped, terminal inflorescences atop stiff, America east of gree angles between the nodes. The one- to glabrous stems. the Rockies three-foot-tall stems bear rounded, toothed Solidago roanensis 1–2½/ Tight clumps of vertical stalks open from early Mid-Atlantic 6–8, 8–1 leaves that intermingle with the wandlike (Roan Mountain goldenrod) 1–2 ft. July to October as branched, bottlebrushlike and Southeast clusters of starry, medium-yellow flowers. inflorescences of bright yellow. U.S. In autumn, when color in the shade is at a Solidago spathulata 1–3/3 ft., Upright stems with open, narrow branches and Oregon and 7–10, 10–7 premium, zigzag goldenrod brightens up (spoon-leaf goldenrod) variable by inflorescences of bright flowers that arch or stand California darkened recesses and woodland edges. Its conditions erect, variable in size and form. native habitat is deciduous woods, clearings, and roadsides from Nova Scotia and North Dakota south to Georgia and Arkansas. oval to lance-shaped leaves. Showy gold- feet, with the wand of abundant, loosely from late summer through fall. Clumps enrod is native to open woods, savannas, packed florets stretching up to a foot high- gradually spread into a groundcover that GARDEN PLACEMENT AND COMPANIONS meadows, and dry prairies from New En- er to provide a burst of brilliant yellow can help curb erosion. Widely native to Their variety of forms and lengthy bloom gland to Minnesota and Wyoming, south western North America from the Black period make goldenrods integral to late to Georgia and Texas. Hills west to southern Canada and Mexi- summer and autumn color schemes. Ob- Bog goldenrod (S. uliginosa, Zones co, it is variable in size and habit depend- serving them in their native habitat is the 3–8, 8–1) resembles a gargantuan yellow ing on provenance. best guide to garden placement, though liatris. Thick two- to three-foot stems bear most species exhibit broad adaptability. The buttonlike clusters of rich lemon-yellow n TWO FOR SHADE key is to site them where their tidy green foli- flowers in September and October. The Wreath or bluestemmed goldenrod (S. age is balanced by colorful companions until quilted, spatula-shaped basal leaves lend a caesia, Zones 4–9, 9–1) is a spiky, wand- they are ready to burst into bloom. bold accent to the summer garden. This flowered goldenrod with blue green, linear In my southern Virginia garden, visitors lovely species has a more northerly range leaves alternating up smooth, wiry, one- to are often astounded by the assortment of than many other goldenrods and is intoler- three-foot stems. The leaves intergrade in- species and the magnitude of the display. ant of extended warm night temperatures. to the inflorescence, but droop below the The tough species from dry sites are perfect ‘Fireworks’, a selection of rough-stemmed goldenrod with arcing flowerstalks, makes a dramatic And, as the common name indicates, it will arching stem while the flowers face upward. for sunny banks and boulevard plantings show in this autumn border with black-eyed Susans and other late-flowering perennials. grow best in reasonably moist sites. It’s na- The medium yellow flowers begin opening where conditions are punishing. In early tive to bogs, wet meadows, ditches, and low in early fall and last for several weeks. This August, the lemon lollipops of showy gold- cyrtis spp.), and a skirt of bottle gentians wind to new destinations. With any luck, woods from Newfoundland and Minneso- underutilized species adds an elegant spot enrod light up the street perimeter. Later in (Gentiana andrewsii). I am spreading the wealth around. Next ta, south to New Jersey and Indiana, and of late-season color when planted in rich, the season, golden dashes of gray goldenrod In shade and woodland gardens, zig- year, gold may be discovered in my neigh- in the mountains south to North Carolina. moist soil in part to full shade. It is native to are perfect to echo the russet stalks of lit- zag and wreath goldenrod match up well bors’ gardens. The rush is on! m Western gardeners need not feel left open woods, woodland borders and clear- tle bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium). A with the crisp erect fronds of wood ferns out, because they can grow velvety or ings from Nova Scotia and Wisconsin, lone clump of stiff or ‘Fireworks’ goldenrod (Dryopteris spp.), leafy bugbanes (Actaea, Author, garden tour host, and garden design California goldenrod (S. velutina, Zones south to Florida and Texas. can anchor a spot and serve as a striking syn. Cimicifuga spp.), Solomon’s seals (Po- consultant C. Colston Burrell has spent a life- 4–10, 10–1), a lovely plant with narrowly Zigzag goldenrod (S. flexicaulis, Zones focal point. lygonatum spp.), white and purple toad lilies time studying native plants. He gardens on 10 branched, erect inflorescences of showy Native to western North America, California 3–8, 8–1) is named for its distinctive, kinked In sunny borders, species like early (Tricyrtis spp.), and groundcovers such as acres of woodlands and meadows in the Blue

flowers. The leafy stems rise one to two goldenrod can spread to form a groundcover. stems, which bend back and forth at 45-de- COURTESY OF CONSTANCE VADHEIM, MOTHER NATURE’S BACKYARD TOP: JOSEPH G. STRAUCH, JR. BOTTOM: NANCY J. ONDRA goldenrod, ‘Solar Cascade’, and spiky barrenworts (Epimedium spp.). Ridge Mountains of Virginia.

34 the American Gardener July / August 2018 35