Plant Name
Native Region
Goldenrod
Growth Habit
North America
Toxicity: Goldenrod is toxic to horses, sheep, goats, and cattle, especially in the winter and late fall.
Rhizomatous growth: Canada goldenrod is not usually planted in landscaped settings due to its rhizomatous growth.
Allelopathy: Goldenrod roots produce chemicals that prevent or reduce the germination of other plants.
Can become aggressive: Tall goldenrod can choke out other native species and invasive species
Germination and Growth
Wildlife Supported
Goldenrod seeds can germinate in 14–40 days in a greenhouse, or as soon as five days if exposed to heat.
However, some types of goldenrod, like zig-zag goldenrod, need to go through one to two months of cold, moist stratification before they germinate.
If you start the seeds indoors, you can transplant the seedlings into the garden after the last frost date, once they are at least 2 inches tall. Most types of goldenrod need full sun to produce the largest and most vibrant blooms.
To cold stratify showy goldenrod seeds, you can:
Refrigerate the seeds for one day
Freeze the seeds for one day
Repeat this process for one week
Once stratified, you can sow the seeds directly outdoors in the fall or spring, or start them indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
When sowing the seeds, you can:
Surface sow them. Gently press them into the dirt
Ensure they receive light
Keep them moist but not soggy
Keep them in a very warm environment (70°F)
Goldenrods support more butterflies and moths than any other perennial forb: 115 species of Lepidoptera eat goldenrod leaves and shoots. Countless flies, grasshoppers, thrips, and true bugs (e.g. aphids and stink bugs) devour goldenrod as well, meaning individual plants teem with insect life.
Goldenrod also provides food for migrating butterflies, native bees, chickadees, finches, and pine siskins.
Pollinators: Bees, flies, moths, beetles, and wasps
Predators: Lady beetles, ambush bugs, spiders, and carnivorous wasps
Other insects: Lacebugs, leafminers, and treehoppers
Pests Repelled
Description
Toxicity: Goldenrod is toxic to horses, sheep, goats, and cattle, especially in the winter and late fall.
Rhizomatous growth: Canada goldenrod is not usually planted in landscaped settings due to its rhizomatous growth.
Allelopathy: Goldenrod roots produce chemicals that prevent or reduce the germination of other plants.
Can become aggressive: Tall goldenrod can choke out other native species and invasive species
Solidago, or Goldenrod, is a genus of herbaceous perennials in the aster family with up to 120 species and numerous cultivars. It displays small, bright yellow flowers in dense clusters on top of tall stems from July through September.
Terms to Learn
Stratification: pre-treating seeds to simulate the natural conditions they experience in soil during winter. This process helps seeds break dormancy and start germinating. Stratification can be done using cold or warm temperatures.
Rhizomatous Growth: The rhizome growth has three phases: downward, lateral, and upward. Rhizomes are stems that grow horizontally, and are also called creeping rootstalks or rootstalks. They can be found below ground, but some species produce them at the soil surface. Rhizomes are involved in asexual reproduction and food storage.