Late Goldenrod

Perennial  •  $6, 4-inch pot

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Height	3 to 6 ft
Spacing	2 to 3 ft
Sun Exposure	Full Sun to Light Shade
Soil Moisture	Medium Wet
Bloom Color	Yellow
Bloom Time	Aug, Sept
Companion Plantings	New England Aster, Swamp Aster, Ironweed, Joe Pye Weed, Pasture Thistle
Special Attributes

Solidago gigantea

Also called Giant Goldenrod, Solidago gigantea erupts in a bright yellow plume of tiny yellow flowers in early fall, which attract nearly every type of pollinating insect, including Monarch butterflies on their migration south. Giant Goldenrod grows best in full to part sun in soil on the wetter side, but easily adapts to full shade and drier soils. This plant is often confused with other weedy goldenrods, like Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis), but can be easily differentiated by its hairless reddish stems and tendency to grow in wetter soils. Late Goldenrod can spread somewhat aggressively via rhizomes and may not be best for small gardens.

Goldenrods are enormously beneficial plants and support over 100 caterpillar species and a slew of generalist and specialist pollinators. Many other non-pollinating insects and a few birds also feed on or use this plant. Doug Tallamy identifies Solidago spp. as keystone plants for the plethora of wildlife they support.

Goldenrods bloom at the same time as the wind-pollinated Ragweed and are thus often falsely blamed for causing seasonal allergies, although Ragweed is the true culprit here. Goldenrod pollen is heavy and sticky and can only be moved by visiting insects (not the wind), so it cannot cause seasonal allergies.

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