The Solidago family, the goldenrods, get a lot of bad press. The antihistamine companies vilify goldenrods in their adds even though it is usually ragweed that they should be complaining about. Ragweed has tiny pollen that floats on the breeze and straight up a nostril. Goldenrod pollen is much larger and is picked up by bees to be transported between flowers. I once had a neighbor that told me my front yard goldenrods were causing her allergies, her doctor told her. I explained to her that the doctor probably meant ragweed but she insisted. So, I dug up my goldenrod and moved it to the backyard where she couldn’t see it. Sometimes it is best to just make the neighbors happy.
My favorite goldenrod for sun is the cliff goldenrod, Solidago drummondii. Cliff golden rod had stems that grow about 2 ft long but they arch over so it is a much shorter plant then the other goldenrods. Because of the arching, a single plant can get to be quite large around. As their name says, cliff goldenrod is happy growing off the side of a cliff. They also enjoy growing at the top of retaining walls and along the edge of driveways, anywhere with full sun and dry to average soil moisture. Bloom time is early fall.
In the shade garden, try bluestem goldenrod, Solidago caesia. Graceful arching stems have a bluish-purple tint. The 1-3 ft tall stems provide attractive habitat in winter for birds and insects. Blooming yellow August through October attracts lots of bees, wasps, butterflies, etc. Grows best in full to partial shade in Medium to dry soil. Bluestem goldenrod makes a nice border along a shady path.
Some goldenrods can be weedy and aggressive like old filed goldenrod, Solidago nemoralis. However, when it is in the right place, such as an old field or abandoned driveway, it is beneficial. Fast growing native weeds can help repair damaged soil and provide habitat for insects. Once the damaged area is left to repair for long enough, more permeant species can grow and create a more stable ecosystem.
The goldenrods are very important to the pollinators because they bloom in fall when many bees are provisioning their nests with food for the next spring’s generation. Goldenrods are golden yellow and a field of goldenrod is a beautiful sign of fall. Goldenrods and Asters look great together with the blue and yellow complimenting colors. Because goldenrods bloom in fall they can be kept shorter by trimming them back in the summer before the flowers begin to form without compromising the bloom.
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