Goldenrods
Botanical name: Solidago
Goldenrods
Botanical name: Solidago
Description
Goldenrods are considered a signal for the arrival of fall, they glow in the understory of hardwood trees, along roadsides, in meadows, and in gardens. As variable pollinator feeders, goldenrods attract a huge population of butterflies, bees, flies, and other insects. Birds, too, gather around, since this hearty host offers a bountiful "bug buffet."
Species of Goldenrods
Anisescented goldenrod
Anisescented goldenrod is a fragrant native plant found in the eastern U.S. Its leaves emit a licorice or anise scent when crushed, making it a popular medicinal herb for Native American tribes. It's also used in perfumes and as a natural insect repellent. In the garden, it's a hardy, low-maintenance plant that attracts pollinators with its small, bright yellow flowers in late summer. Its unique anise fragrance and striking golden blooms make it stand out from other goldenrod species.
Elmleaf Goldenrod
Elmleaf Goldenrod (*Solidago ulmifolia*) is an herbaceous perennial plant that will grow from 91 to 183 cm tall. It blooms from summer to fall with golden-yellow vase-shaped flower clusters. It attracts butterflies, bees, and other pollinators as well as birds, and small wildlife feed on the foliage. It prefers partial sun and moist to dry well-drained soil.
Goldenrod
Goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea) is a perennial with golden yellow flowers. It is often considered a common allergen, but this plant produces almost no pollen. Goldenrod is used in landscaping for dry, full-sun locations, and to attract butterflies and bees.
Silverrod
Silverrod (Solidago bicolor) is a perennial shrub that has a long flowering season lasting from summer until fall. Clusters of white daisy-like flowers grow along a flower stem attracting butterflies and bees. The sap from the plant is poisonous to deer and rabbits. Prefers full sun and is drought-tolerant. Perfect for a rock garden or as a ground cover.
Asian goldenrod
Asian goldenrod (Solidago decurrens) is a member of the sunflower family native to southern and eastern Asia. Unlike its oversized relative, asian goldenrod blooms masses of tiny flowers in the summer and fall. Some variants lose their lower leaves when they bloom.
Missouri goldenrod
Missouri goldenrod is a flowering plant that's widespread in North America and Mexico, growing mainly in dry and open habitats. It attracts various types of butterflies, beetles, wasps, grasshoppers, bees, and flies.
Showy goldenrod
Showy goldenrod is a clumping perennial wildflower found across the United States, with tall golden spikes of flowers. It grows well in moist or dry conditions, and provides food late in the season for wildlife such as bees, birds, and deer.
Goldenrods 'Goldenmosa'
Goldenrods 'Goldenmosa' are considered a signal for the arrival of fall, they glow in the understory of hardwood trees, along roadsides, in meadows, and in gardens. As variable pollinator feeders, goldenrods 'Goldenmosa' attract a huge population of butterflies, bees, flies, and other insects. Birds, too, gather around, since this hearty host offers a bountiful "bug buffet."
Canada goldenrod
The Solidago canadensis, colloquially known as canada goldenrod, is a perennial herb native to North America. This plant can be found growing in a variety of different habitats, and it often forms colonies. In many parts of Europe and East Asia, canada goldenrod is considered an invasive species.
Stiff Goldenrod
Stiff Goldenrod (Solidago rigida) is named for its rigid stems and showy yellow flowers which attract butterflies. The plant produces a tufted seed that is dispersed by the wind. Horticulturally, the plant offers bright color to perennial borders or wild gardens.
Wrinkleleaf goldenrod
Wrinkleleaf goldenrod (Solidago rugosa) is a flowering perennial plant related to the sunflower. It grows across the eastern and central reaches of North America in wet and well-balanced soils. Wrinkleleaf goldenrod is widely cultivated as an ornamental garden plant.
Bluestem goldenrod
Bluestem goldenrod (*Solidago caesia*) is a small species of goldenrod. Bluestem goldenrod is a perennial with dark green leaves and sprays of yellow flowers. The stems turn blue-gray as the plant matures which is why it was given the name bluestem goldenrod.
Giant goldenrod
Giant goldenrod (Solidago gigantea) is an herb in the sunflower family. It is widespread in the central and eastern United States and Mexico. Giant goldenrod is found in a variety of natural habitats and nature landscaping cultivation throughout the United States and grows in moderately moist soils. It is the state flower in Kentucky and Nebraska.
Wrinkleleaf goldenrod 'Fireworks'
With its vibrant summer flowers, the wrinkleleaf goldenrod 'Fireworks' - a goldenrod cultivar - blooms from summer through the fall. During a plant rescue in the mid-1970s, Ken Moore selected and named the wrinkleleaf goldenrod 'Fireworks' from a coastal plain population of the species. Its vibrant yellow flowers that resemble fireworks resulted in its byname of 'Fireworks'.
Downy goldenrod
Downy goldenrod (Solidago puberula), a member of the aster family, is found in eastern North America. It blooms plumes of bright yellow flowers in dry areas in summer and in meadows in the fall. These plants are important to bees and butterflies. Birds eat the seeds in fall and winter.
Old field goldenrod
A smaller member of the goldenrod family, old field goldenrod grows on field edges, in forest glades, and in disturbed soil. It is considered a weed in some states and counties in the northeastern United States. Covered in fine hairs that give it a fuzzy, grayish appearance, it is named "nemoralis" after the Latin term for a forest grove, one of its common habitats.
Prairie goldenrod
Prairie goldenrod(Solidago ptarmicoides) is used in gardens and also grows as a wildflower in dry or rocky conditions within outcrops, woods, or prairies. Its scientific name, ptarmicoides, means "to causing sneezing." This refers to the myth that goldenrod pollen causes hay fever.
Gray Goldenrod
Gray Goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) is not usually planted in gardens because its extensive root growth can disrupt other plants. However, if you have a bare patch of land where nothing else seems to grow, gray Goldenrod might be a perfect candidate for it. Another name for it is “Old Field Goldenrod.” It’s indigenous to North America
Zigzag Goldenrod
Zigzag Goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis) gets its common name from its stems, which seem to zigzag from the leaves. Small yellow flowers appear in late summer, producing a large sticky pollen that is often wrongly blamed for hay fever.
Canada goldenrod
The canada goldenrod is widespread across North America and is now widely spread in many countries around the world. A single plant can have as many as 1,500 flower heads and is considered as a dangerous invasive plant worldwide.
Early goldenrod
Early goldenrod (Solidago juncea) is a species of goldenrod that has one of the earliest bloom periods of all goldenrods, and usually makes its first appearance in the middle of the summer. Grow it in well-drained soil in direct sun. It even thrives in dry soil. Remove dried up clusters of flowers to encourage further growth.
Seaside goldenrod
Seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) is a flowering plant species that grows well along coastal beaches, dunes, and salt marshes. Seaside goldenrod blossoms grow in brilliant yellow clusters. The leaves are waxy and thick, which is how they adapted to the drying effects of salt spray in their environment.
Houghton's goldenrod
Houghton's goldenrod are considered a signal for the arrival of fall, they glow in the understory of hardwood trees, along roadsides, in meadows, and in gardens. As variable pollinator feeders, houghton's goldenrod attract a huge population of butterflies, bees, flies, and other insects. Birds, too, gather around, since this hearty host offers a bountiful "bug buffet."
Hairy goldenrod
Hairy goldenrod are considered a signal for the arrival of fall, they glow in the understory of hardwood trees, along roadsides, in meadows, and in gardens. As variable pollinator feeders, hairy goldenrod attract a huge population of butterflies, bees, flies, and other insects. Birds, too, gather around, since this hearty host offers a bountiful "bug buffet."
Mountain decumbent goldenrod
Mountain decumbent goldenrod are considered a signal for the arrival of fall, they glow in the understory of hardwood trees, along roadsides, in meadows, and in gardens. As variable pollinator feeders, mountain decumbent goldenrod attract a huge population of butterflies, bees, flies, and other insects. Birds, too, gather around, since this hearty host offers a bountiful "bug buffet."
Showy goldenrod
Showy goldenrod are considered a signal for the arrival of fall, they glow in the understory of hardwood trees, along roadsides, in meadows, and in gardens. As variable pollinator feeders, showy goldenrod attract a huge population of butterflies, bees, flies, and other insects. Birds, too, gather around, since this hearty host offers a bountiful "bug buffet."
Nevada goldenrod
Nevada goldenrod are considered a signal for the arrival of fall, they glow in the understory of hardwood trees, along roadsides, in meadows, and in gardens. As variable pollinator feeders, nevada goldenrod attract a huge population of butterflies, bees, flies, and other insects. Birds, too, gather around, since this hearty host offers a bountiful "bug buffet."
Western rough goldenrod
Western rough goldenrod are considered a signal for the arrival of fall, they glow in the understory of hardwood trees, along roadsides, in meadows, and in gardens. As variable pollinator feeders, western rough goldenrod attract a huge population of butterflies, bees, flies, and other insects. Birds, too, gather around, since this hearty host offers a bountiful "bug buffet."
Largeleaf goldenrod
Largeleaf goldenrod are considered a signal for the arrival of fall, they glow in the understory of hardwood trees, along roadsides, in meadows, and in gardens. As variable pollinator feeders, largeleaf goldenrod attract a huge population of butterflies, bees, flies, and other insects. Birds, too, gather around, since this hearty host offers a bountiful "bug buffet."
Bog goldenrod
Bog goldenrod are considered a signal for the arrival of fall, they glow in the understory of hardwood trees, along roadsides, in meadows, and in gardens. As variable pollinator feeders, bog goldenrod attract a huge population of butterflies, bees, flies, and other insects. Birds, too, gather around, since this hearty host offers a bountiful "bug buffet."
Pine barren goldenrod
Pine barren goldenrod are considered a signal for the arrival of fall, they glow in the understory of hardwood trees, along roadsides, in meadows, and in gardens. As variable pollinator feeders, pine barren goldenrod attract a huge population of butterflies, bees, flies, and other insects. Birds, too, gather around, since this hearty host offers a bountiful "bug buffet."
Rocky mountain goldenrod
Rocky mountain goldenrod are considered a signal for the arrival of fall, they glow in the understory of hardwood trees, along roadsides, in meadows, and in gardens. As variable pollinator feeders, rocky mountain goldenrod attract a huge population of butterflies, bees, flies, and other insects. Birds, too, gather around, since this hearty host offers a bountiful "bug buffet."
Care Guide for Goldenrods
Scientific Classification
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