Do you love the brilliant yellow colors of Goldenrod in the Fall? But perhaps you’ve heard (or know) just how aggressive Goldenrod can be? Well, what if I told you that there was a species of Goldenrod that isn’t as aggressive? You can have those brilliant yellow blooms in your garden in fall, without risk of it taking over! In this article I’ll tell you all about a species of beautiful brilliant yellow Goldenrod that is less aggressive – Showy Goldenrod, Solidago Speciosa.
I. Appearance and Characteristics
Solidago speciosa, the showy goldenrod, is a North American species of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. It grows in the province of Ontario in central Canada, as well as in the eastern and central United States (from the Atlantic coast west as far as the Great Plains, so from Maine to Georgia (except Delaware) west as far as Texas, Nebraska, and the Dakotas).
Solidago speciosa is a perennial herb up to 200 cm (80 inches, over 6 feet) tall, producing a thick underground caudex. One plant can produce as many as 5 stems, each with up to 300 small yellow flower heads.
Varieties
- Solidago speciosa var. rigidiuscula Torr. & A.Gray – mostly in western portions of range
- Solidago speciosa var. speciosa – mostly in eastern portions of range
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
Showy Goldenrod will grow in full sun (six plus hours of direct sunlight per day) or partial sun (4-6 hours of sun). It does not tolerate full shade.
Watering
Thriving in its native prairies, showy goldenrod is well-adapted to periods of drought but benefits from consistent moisture. This species exhibits a preference for moderate hydration, aligning with its evolutionary resilience to variable water availability. Watering every week will maintain its vigor without over-saturating the soil. As an herbaceous perennial commonly grown outdoors, showy goldenrod’s growth cycles are attuned to rainfall patterns, requiring less intervention during wet seasons and more attention during dry spells.
Soil
For soil, Showy Goldenrod is fairly flexible in that it can grow in most loans as well as sandier soils. But it will not grow as well in clay.
In overly fertile soils, Showy Goldenrod can flop over and may require staking.
Fertilizing
For healthy growth and vibrant blooms, showy goldenrod benefit from fertilization with balanced, slow-release nutrients. In the growth season, apply a high phosphorus fertilizer every 4-6 weeks to encourage flowering, adhering to package recommendations for quantity. Excess can harm showy goldenrod, so precise measurements are crucial. During dormancy, reduce fertilization to prevent overfeeding. Utilize granular or liquid forms, ensuring even distribution near the root zone. Always water thoroughly post-application to aid absorption. For the inexperienced, start with smaller amounts to gauge showy goldenrod’s response.
How to Grow Showy Goldenrod from Seed
Showy Goldenrod seed requires a two month period of cold moist stratification to break dormancy. This can be achieved by cold stratifying the seed in the refrigerator or by Winter Sowing.
The planting depth of the seed should be on the surface of the soil. In fact, you should just sprinkle the seed on top of moist potting soil, and press it firmly into the soil to ensure good contact. This is because in addition to the cold moist stratification, the seed also needs exposure to sunlight to break dormancy.
Process to germinate Showy Goldenrod Seeds
The following is the steps you should take to plant Showy Goldenrod seeds either for Wintersowing, or seed that has been stratified for a period of two months.
- Fill a container with moist potting soil. Tamp the soil firm, but leave a 1/2″ gap (12 mm) at the top of the container.
- Sprinkle 5-10 Showy Goldenrod seeds on top of the potting soil.
- Press the seeds into the soil with your thumb. But, take care to not bury them!
- Place the container in a location that receives morning sun and afternoon shade. This step is of great importance. The morning sun gets the seed exposed to light, and the afternoon shade will help lessen the chance of seed drying out.
- Keep the seeds moist. Use a pump sprayer or mist the seed with a spray bottle. Misting the seed helps ensure it doesn’t get covered by dirt. Remember, Showy Goldenrod needs exposure to sunlight to break dormancy!
- Seeds will germinate once Spring temperatures begin to warm up.
How to direct sow Showy Goldenrod Seed
To direct sow Showy Goldenrod seed, in Autumn or Winter just sprinkle or broadcast seed in a disturbed area. Then, walk over the seed to help press it into the soil. The seed needs to have good contact with the soil, but still be exposed to direct sunlight to break dormancy.
The seed will germinate naturally in Spring as temperatures begin to warm up.
How to transplant Showy Goldenrod from the container into the garden
- Dig a hole 50% wider than your container that has your plant.
- Fill the hole with water and wait for it to drain. If the soil does not drain well, then consider planting it in a different location. Or, make sure the plant is several inches higher than the surrounding soil.
- Place your seedling into the hole, and back-fill with dirt. Make sure the top of your plant is slightly higher than the surrounding soil.
- Water the plant.
Time to establish
You can expect Showy Goldenrod to bloom the first year, but it will not be full height yet. By the second year, Showy Goldenrod should be approaching full height, produce multiple flowering stalks, and will look wonderful.
Maintenance
In Winter or Spring, Showy Goldenrod can be cut back to ground once the plant is dormant and brown in color. If you don’t want volunteer seedlings, you should consider deadheading the flower before seeds form.
III. Uses and Benefits
Ornamental uses
Showy Goldenrod can look great in a wildflower garden, microprairie, meadow, or border garden. It’s tall height can give it a commanding presence and really provide your yard with a late season ‘pop’ of color.
For formal flower beds, Showy Goldenrod may want to lean over and may require staking. To counteract this, In that case you should give it the ‘Chelsea Chop’. What this means is that in late June or early July, you cut the plant back by half. This will encourage branching, and reduce the overall height of the flower.
The key thing to remember about using Showy Goldenrod is that you need more than one plant! This flower doesn’t branch, and a single spike of color will look quite isolated. So, plant in groups of at least 3 or 4 to give it a mass of color. Trust me, it will look better.
Medicinal uses
Showy Goldenrod has nine different medicinal uses documented by two tribes. The root and stalk were the primary parts used.
Infusion of root was used by the Meskwaki to treat burns. The Chippewa had several uses of the plant:
- A decoction of roots were taken to help with lung problems/hemorrhaging, or as a stimulant or tonic.
- Infusion of root was used to help with childbirth
- They would combine root or stalk with bear grease for a hair ointment
- A warm poultice of boiled root or stalk could be applied to sore muscles or sprains
