Goldenrods — weeds or beautiful wildflowers? Regardless, were the myriads of golden wands suddenly vanish from our autumnal fields and meadows, they would be sorely missed.
American fields, like American woods, are the world’s most colorful in the fall. A host of brilliant wildflowers—asters, ironweeds, thoroughworts, sunflowers, blazing stars, coneflowers, lobelias—all contribute to this color. But, overriding all is the vast golden wave of Solidago.
Different Kinds of Goldenrod
A hundred different kinds of goldenrod constitute this family. No wonder we don’t appreciate them.
If goldenrods were rare, as they are in Europe, we would welcome them into our gardens with the same enthusiasm as the English gardener who grows them in company with American wild asters (Michaelmas daisies).
The name goldenrod is most apt and is a literal translation of the Latin name of the chief European species, virgaurea.
State Flower of Alabama
Goldenrod is the state flower of Alabama, Kentucky, and Nebraska. It is a perennial contender for the national floral emblem but will probably lose out to either the rose, carnation, or marigold.
Most people now know it is ragweed, not goldenrod, which is the chief vector of hay fever.
The vast array of goldenrod species is understandably confusing to wildflower enthusiasts. Yet, many are distinctive and common enough that you can learn their names easily.
For this purpose, one of the oldest wildflower guides, Fieldbook of American Wildflowers by F. Schuyler Matthews, is still one of the best.
Though goldenrods are characteristically fallen flowers for most of us, they bloom throughout the year in subtropical Florida.
No planting of native wildings is complete without a few carefully chosen goldenrods.
Avoid the common tall, rank species (Canadensis in particular), for they quickly spread wide and far. Select carefully those which hold themselves within hounds.
Best Species for Cultivation
Gray Goldenrod
Among the best species for cultivation is the gray goldenrod, nevioralis, common in open woods and roadsides.
It forms a compact cluster of simple stems with fuzzy gray leaves and seldom exceeds 2′ feet in height.
It produces narrow, one-sided clusters of wand-like gold sprays which nod like bent fingertips. The gray goldenrod makes a fine rock garden plant.
Wreath Goldenrod
The wreath goldenrod, caesia, belongs in every authentic native wildflower collection because it is the most typical goldenrod of woodlands and the prettiest.
Its purplish stems produce a bluish bloom and are slightly zigzag. The leaves are often directed backward, with flower clusters lodged between the leaf angle and stem.
Silverrod and Hispida
Unique in this family is the silverrod, bicolor, the only white-flowered goldenrod. It grows commonly in sterile soils and improves greatly in cultivation.
Growth is stiffly erect, with flowers clustered along the stem, gradually congesting toward the tip. Similar in form is hispida, but it has the usual yellow goldenrod flowers.
True Alpine Goldenrod
True alpine goldenrod for rock gardens is the 8-inch cutlery found on the mountain tops of New York and New England.
Individual flower heads are large with conspicuous rays and are congested at the tip of the stem. Real goldenrod, puberula is frequently found in pine barrens.
The flower cluster is cylindrical in outline, sharply differentiated at the tip of the stem from the foliage below. The plant is stiff and erect like a poker.
Sweet Goldenrod
The easiest goldenrod to know is probably the sweet goldenrod, odora. The crushed leaves’ strong, sweet, anise odor identifies it immediately.
Odora grows 2’ to 3’ feet tall with stems that arch slightly. The terminal flower cluster is one-sided, often flat-topped, and somewhat resembles a human hand with fingers extended forward.
Chapmani Goldenrod
Differing slightly, with the anise odor less pronounced, is chapmani goldenrod of South Georgia and Florida which frequently blooms in the winter and spring months as well as the usual late summer and fall.
Goldenrod Culture
Goldenrod culture offers no problems. Just avoid over-rich soil to prevent extensive foliation at the expense of flowers.
In most states obtaining goldenrod from wild sources violates no conservation precepts.
The preceding are but a few goldenrods, which are fine perennial plants that can be grown in cultivation with no fear of rampant weedy tendencies. Many more could be listed, and you may want to find them.
44659 by Leonard J. Uttal