Solidago speciosa, Showy Goldenrod, Quart pot

Solidago speciosa , Showy Goldenrod

FS, Zone 3, blooms September to hard frost, 5’ x 3’ medium dry, likes somewhat sandy, soil, NOT invasive.

Showy Goldenrod tends to bloom a little later than most Goldenrods. It is indeed one of the showiest of the genus with a feathery plume comprised of a dense clump of pale yellow to deep yellow flowers atop an attractive red stem. Solidago speciosa is considered by many to have the most spectacular flower display of the approximate 125 species of native goldenrods in the USA. Whatever your preference or situation may be, there is a goldenrod to suit all occasions. Sadly, goldenrods often get blamed for causing the dreaded hay fever. This isn’t true. Their pollen is quite large and sticky so as to better adhere to the body of visiting insects. Because of this, goldenrod pollen cannot become airborne and can never make its way into your sinuses. The true cause of hay fever is the wind pollinated ragweed, which broadcast copious amounts of lightweight pollen into the air.

We cannot stress enough how important goldenrods are on the landscape. Including them on your property will provide ecosystem services well into the fall when most other plant life is shutting down. At Detroit Abloom we offer several types of goldenrod to provide valuable late season nectar and pollen. Showy is a clump-forming plant that does not spread aggressively.

Attracts a wide variety of native bees, honeybees, butterflies, moths and beetles. Plants host caterpillars of several moth species. Seeds are eaten by Goldfinches.