Bloom Color

Interesting Notes

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.
(http://www.bbg.org/gar2/topics/wildflower/1998fa_goldenrod.html)

Goldenrods are an important nectar and pollen source for pollinators of all kinds, including bees and many species of butterflies such as Monarchs, Viceroys, and Painted Ladies. While most species are rather aggressive and so unsuited for a more formal garden, they are wonderful for the natural setings of wood, meadow, and seaside. There are also two cultivars, well suited for beds and borders, which have been offered in recent years. One is Solidago sphacelata "Golden Fleece" introduced by Mt. Cuba. Growing only 18-24", the flowering stems are pyramidal in shape. Solidago rugosa "Fireworks" grows 3-4 feet tall, but it is fairly compact, graceful and very floriferous with elm-like branches. I grow both of these in my garden, and they don't get out of hand. They're beautiful with blue and purple New England asters.
(http://www.agnr.umd.edu/users/QueenAnnes/Golden.html)

Growing and Maintenance Tips

S. sphacelata is native to calcarous woodlands and rocky pastures from Virginia to Illinois south to Kentucky and Georgia. Prefers somewhat fertile, sandy, well-drained soils in fullsun. Propagate by seed or division every 3-4 years. Cut back to encourage rebloom. Used in butterfly and wild gardens or as a groundcover or border perennial.