Goldenrod

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; flowering and stem strength are best in full sun.

Water

Keep evenly moist while establishing. Established plants tolerate brief dry spells, but flower best where the soil does not dry out for long.

Soil

Moist, reasonably well-drained soil; tolerates clay and occasional wet conditions. Avoid very dry soil and excessive fertiliser.

Height

3-5 ft (0.9-1.5 m)

Spread

2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m) initially; colonies can spread farther through underground stems.

Flowers

Late summer to autumn; small golden-yellow flowers in branching, often arching sprays.

Foliage

Deciduous green leaves with toothed edges, a wrinkled surface and a rough, hairy texture; stems are also hairy.

Growth

Fast once established.

Care needed

Medium

• Water deeply during dry spells in the first growing season.
• Apply a thin layer of compost in spring; avoid rich feeding that encourages floppy growth.
• Mulch around the plants to conserve moisture, keeping mulch clear of emerging shoots.
• Support tall stems early if the site is windy or partly shaded.
• Divide congested clumps every three to four years and remove shoots that spread beyond their allotted space.

Pruning. For shorter, bushier plants, cut stems back by about one-third in late spring, before flower buds develop. Leave spent stems for winter structure and wildlife, then cut them to ground level in late winter or early spring; remove flower heads earlier if unwanted seedlings are a problem.

Late winter

Cut old stems to ground level before new shoots develop.

Spring

Plant or divide clumps, water thoroughly and apply a light compost mulch.

Late spring

Shorten stems if a more compact plant is wanted, and install supports where needed.

Summer

Water during prolonged dry weather and remove spreading shoots from neighbouring plants.

Late summer

Check lower leaves for mildew or rust and improve airflow around crowded clumps.

Autumn

Leave seedheads for wildlife, or remove them before seeds disperse to limit self-seeding.

• Plant in the middle or back of a mixed border with purple asters for contrasting autumn colour.
• Combine with switchgrass in meadow-style planting for airy flowers and upright grassy structure.
• Use in a sunny, moisture-retentive wildlife border to extend the flowering season.
• Plant in broad groups along a sunny woodland edge, with space for colonies to expand.

Garden styles it suits: Cottage garden, Native meadow, New perennial (prairie), Wildlife garden, Pollinator garden and Autumn colour.

Plant it with: New England aster, Switchgrass, Joe-Pye weed, Black-eyed Susan, Purple coneflower and Sneezeweed.

Wildlife: Flowers provide late-season pollen and nectar for bees, butterflies, hoverflies and other insects. Seedheads may feed small birds, and standing stems provide shelter for overwintering invertebrates.

• Powdery mildew: white coating develops on leaves, especially in crowded planting. Divide clumps, improve airflow and water the soil rather than the foliage.
• Rust: orange or brown pustules appear on leaves. Remove badly affected foliage and clear diseased fallen leaves.
• Flopping stems: shade, rich soil or exposed positions can cause stems to lean. Give more sun, reduce feeding and add discreet supports.
• Unwanted spread: underground stems and seedlings can crowd nearby plants. Lift stray shoots, divide regularly and remove seedheads before they shed.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people; no part is established as poisonous in ordinary garden exposure. It is not a food plant, and eating it may still cause digestive upset. Sensitive people may develop skin irritation when handling it.

Where it spreads. Can spread aggressively by underground stems and self-seeding in moist gardens within its native eastern North American range, including the eastern United States and Canada. Allow space and remove unwanted growth; this garden-spreading habit does not by itself mean the species is officially listed as invasive.

• Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis)

  Usually has narrower leaves that are less deeply wrinkled, often with three prominent lengthwise veins. Both can have hairy stems, so stem hair alone is not a reliable distinction.

• Giant goldenrod (Solidago gigantea)

  Has mostly smooth, often bluish or waxy stems below the flower clusters, unlike the rough, hairy stems of rough goldenrod.

• Common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia)

  Has deeply divided leaves and inconspicuous greenish flower spikes rather than conspicuous yellow sprays. Ragweed releases windborne pollen; goldenrod is mainly insect-pollinated.

Solidago comes from Latin words associated with making whole, referring to historical medicinal use, while rugosa means wrinkled and describes the leaves.

Propagation. Divide clumps in spring, retaining healthy roots and shoots in each section. Species plants can also be raised from seed sown outdoors in autumn; named cultivars should be divided to preserve their characteristics.

Accepted botanical name

Solidago rugosa

In the US and Canada

Native in Canada, the lower 48 states and St. Pierre and Miquelon.

Native range

Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine and Maryland.

Measured

Soil pH 5 to 7.5. Average height 86 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.