- by Grey County Master Gardeners

A weed is merely a plant that grows where we do not want it to. With our pollinator insects and songbirds in crisis, it is time to rethink what constitutes a “weed” and to create the type of habitats that support biodiversity. The current trend towards using more native plants in the garden is a positive one. Native plant species have evolved alongside our pollinators for thousands of years. They are well-suited to our local environmental conditions and generally require little in the way of supplemental watering or fertilizing.

Goldenrod is a member of the genus “Solidago” which has around 120 different species of flowering plants and is in the aster family. The North American varieties are prized as garden plants in Europe and often pulled as weeds in North America. In the fall, goldenrod is an important late-season food source for bees before entering hibernation and to help fuel Monarch butterflies on their migration to Mexico. It is host to over 115 butterfly and moth species and by supporting caterpillars, we also support the struggling songbird populations.

Misunderstood and often blamed for causing allergic reactions, goldenrod has large, heavy pollen and it requires insects to move it around. While you can be allergic to any plant, and goldenrod is no exception, this pollen dispersal method means you generally need to get up close and personal with it to react. The much more likely seasonal allergy culprit is the highly allergenic ragweed (Ambrosia spp.) that grows under similar conditions and flowers at the same time, but is wind-pollinated.

In the home garden, goldenrod has a lot to offer. It’s an easy-care, reliable perennial with showy yellow flowers starting in late July and lasting through September. The autumn combination of bright yellow goldenrod against the brilliant magenta of New England asters is particularly exhilarating. With 30 native varieties, there is a goldenrod for every growing condition, from dry shade (S. flexicaulis – “Zigzag”) to full sun (S. canadensis “Canada”) to wet (S. uliginosa – “Bog”), to under your black walnut tree because they are juglone tolerant. One of the author’s favourite varieties is the “Fireworks” (S. rugosa) with delicate leaves and arcing inflorescences that forms an attractive clump. Planting goldenrod near a vegetable garden will help to draw in insects to pollinate your food plants. Once established, goldenrod will appear every spring and can be propagated by division or by cutting. Canada goldenrod can be a bit of a bully in the garden and spreads rapidly, but it has a shallow root system and volunteers are easily weeded out when small.

Sometimes we get so used to seeing a plant that we label it as “common” and forget to appreciate its beauty and versatility. With so many great perks, goldenrod is definitely a plant that should be on more gardeners’ wish lists!

References
Badgett, Becca. “Goldenrod Care: Information and Tips for How To Grow Goldenrod Plants”. https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/goldenrod/goldenrod-care-information.htm

Booth, Shaun. “Native Goldenrods for the Ontario Garden” https://www.inournature.ca/goldenrods-for-ontario-gardens. Nov 5, 2020.
“Goldenrods Group” http://ontariowildflowers.com/main/group.php?id=2