Solidago speciosa

Herbaceous perennial

Plant in spring; blooms in late summer to early autumn, lasting about a month

Full sun (at least 6 hours of sunlight daily) to partial shade

65–80°F (18–27°C)

Adaptable to most garden soils with good drainage; prefers sandy or loamy soils but tolerates clay

3–8 (USDA)

Takes 2–3 weeks to germinate. Requires two months of cold, moist stratification to break dormancy; sow seeds on moist potting soil, pressing them in without burying

Acid to neutral (5.5 to 7.5)

Low to average water needs

Not needed. Avoid overly rich soil, as it can lead to leggy growth

Erect, vase-shaped perennial with smooth reddish or green stems

Seeds, rooted vegetative plug, or by division of rhizomes

3–5 ft

2–3 ft

Bright yellow, dense panicles about 1 foot long, with many small (¼ inch) flower heads

Bees and butterflies; excellent nectar plant for pollinators

Works well in wildlife gardens, meadows, perennial borders, cut flower gardens, low-maintenance plantings, roadsides, and restoration projects; adds late summer color and contrast to prairie and naturalized areas

Asters, black-eyed Susans, coneflowers, and grasses like big bluestem or little bluestem

Remove spent flower clusters to encourage additional blooms; deadhead before seeds ripen if unwanted seedlings are a concern

May contain a hemolytic agent that is mildly poisonous to some herbivores

Relatively pest-free

Occasionally affected by powdery mildew or leaf rust

Can be mistaken for Eupatorium species

Considered one of the most spectacular goldenrod species among the 125 native varieties; often wrongly blamed for hay fever, which is actually caused by wind-borne pollen from ragweed