Common Name: Showy Goldenrod
Family: Asteraceae
Native Range: Central and eastern United States
Zone: 3 to 8
Height: 2 to 3 feet
Spread: 2 to 3 feet
Bloom Time: July to September
Bloom Description: Yellow
Sun: Full Sun
Water: Dry to Medium
Maintenance: Medium
Attracts: Any insect with an interest in flowering plants
Goldenrod species have been named “[b]est plants for pollinator visitor diversity” and “[b]est plants for sheer number of insect visitors” and “[b]est plants for sheer # of bee and syrphid [fly] visitors” and finally “[b]est plants for attracting bumble bees” by a recent study performed by Pennsylvania State University Extension. One reason goldenrods are so important for pollinators are they bloom very late in the season when other plants are done. It is important that we provide forage for pollinators through the whole season. Goldenrod gets a bad rap from those who suffer hay fever, but it really isn’t the culprit. It blooms at the same time as ragweed. Ragweed has small pollen that is carried on the wind. Goldrod has very large, sticky pollen grains that are mainly transferred via insects.
Showy goldenrod is easily grown in average dry to medium well drained soils in full sun. It is extremely tolerant of poor soils. It can tolerate poor, dry soils. It spreads by rhizomes and if not managed can get out of hand however, if divided every 3 or 4 years it can be kept under control. It is recommended to remove spent flower clusters to encourage additional bloom. The tiny bright yellow flowers are borne on dense, erect, terminal clusters on stiff, narrow leaved red stems that are typically 2 to 3 feet tall. The yellow of goldenrod makes a pleasant scene with the varied bronzes, russets, oranges and purples of the fall prairie. It is a sure sign that the first frosts of winter are not long away.
Horticulture information from:
Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder
http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=g690
Penn State University Extension:
Penn state pollinator study 2013
Family: Asteraceae
Native Range: Central and eastern United States
Zone: 3 to 8
Height: 2 to 3 feet
Spread: 2 to 3 feet
Bloom Time: July to September
Bloom Description: Yellow
Sun: Full Sun
Water: Dry to Medium
Maintenance: Medium
Attracts: Any insect with an interest in flowering plants
Goldenrod species have been named “[b]est plants for pollinator visitor diversity” and “[b]est plants for sheer number of insect visitors” and “[b]est plants for sheer # of bee and syrphid [fly] visitors” and finally “[b]est plants for attracting bumble bees” by a recent study performed by Pennsylvania State University Extension. One reason goldenrods are so important for pollinators are they bloom very late in the season when other plants are done. It is important that we provide forage for pollinators through the whole season. Goldenrod gets a bad rap from those who suffer hay fever, but it really isn’t the culprit. It blooms at the same time as ragweed. Ragweed has small pollen that is carried on the wind. Goldrod has very large, sticky pollen grains that are mainly transferred via insects.
Showy goldenrod is easily grown in average dry to medium well drained soils in full sun. It is extremely tolerant of poor soils. It can tolerate poor, dry soils. It spreads by rhizomes and if not managed can get out of hand however, if divided every 3 or 4 years it can be kept under control. It is recommended to remove spent flower clusters to encourage additional bloom. The tiny bright yellow flowers are borne on dense, erect, terminal clusters on stiff, narrow leaved red stems that are typically 2 to 3 feet tall. The yellow of goldenrod makes a pleasant scene with the varied bronzes, russets, oranges and purples of the fall prairie. It is a sure sign that the first frosts of winter are not long away.
Horticulture information from:
Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder
http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=g690
Penn State University Extension:
Penn state pollinator study 2013