Conservation Specialist
copyright 2010
Showy goldenrod is a very showy Missouri native that grows well in average to poor soil with almost no extra watering beyond rainfall!
She has a fairly tight and upright habit that hold the multiple clusters of tiny, bright flowers. These flower wands sway gently in the breeze as if keeping rhythm to a song only she can hear!
Her bloom time typically occurs just as summer transitions into fall, when fall blooming anemone and early blooming asters are just starting to flower. This makes her an indispensable color companion! Her starry flowers are the same for early blooming asters.
Goldenrods have been wrongly accused of causing hay fever which is actually an allergic reaction to wind-borne pollen from other plants such as ragweed.
She is attractive to bees, butterflies and the beautiful little goldfinches!
Showy Goldenrod can easily be distinguished from other goldenrods by the following characteristics: the flower cluster is quite large once the plat is established. The flower clusters are held fairly erect or might have a slight tilt or upward curve unlike the aggressive weedy Canada goldenrod which bends outward and downward.
Care Factor Rating 2 During spring clean-up cut back all the old foliage from last year and then cut around the crown and through the roots like you are cutting a cake away from it's pan. Remove any roots or crown portions that have stretched beyond the designated space for this plant. Remove spent flower clusters to encourage additional bloom.
Additional Tips: Another favorite goldenrod is Plant of Merit Solidago 'Fireworks'. There are many cultivars available allowing different choice of form and flower time!
SIDE NOTE: For listeners and John Shea excited about my favorite butterfly attractor/ late season flowering tree; Seven-Son Flower / Hepticodium- it is now flowering at Creve Cour Sail boat Cove's BENCH Garden. In my homescape the butterflies are gathering on it in mass!
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