Wildflower Wednesday: Goldenrods

Fall's best landing pads of deliciousness.

 Goldenrod is a genus of over 120 species of herbaceous perennials in the daisy family (Asteraceae). There are at least 75 native to North America. They thrive in open areas like prairies, meadows, and savannas while some species prefer woodland edges or moist conditions.

 

Goldenrods are luminous with small, bright yellow flowers in dense clusters on top of tall stems. They begin blooming in mid September in my middle Tennessee garden and continue to bloom throughout October. They put on a beautiful flower show and any insect that needs pollen and/or nectar is sure to be found visiting.You can't ask for a better fall blooming wildlife valuable plant and when you combine them with the ex-asters, you get beauty and happy critters.

 

 

Yet gardeners are reluctant to plant them, so let's get the objections over with first! 

Goldenrods have a bad reputation for two reasons.
 

• They have been misidentified as the cause of hayfever suffering. They are not responsible for any allergy symptoms you or I are having this fall. The tiny grains of wind blown pollen from ragweed is the culprit. Goldenrod is insect pollinated and the pollen grains are too big to be blown about. Pass that along please!
   
• Their tendency to colonize might be one of the main reasons so many gardeners don't plant them in their gardens. Long time readers know I have a love affair with rough and tumble, take care of themselves, colonizing wildflowers and goldenrods are the champion of colonizing wildflowers. Yes, they can be aggressive spreaders, but they are rugged and adaptable. They grow were many wildflowers cannot survive and they can spread quickly where there is no other native plant competition. Those that have been problematic propagate by a rhizomatous/spreading root system that can quickly take over a small garden. So avoid Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) and Late Goldenrod (Solidago gigantea)  two goldenrod species known for their aggressive spread by rhizomes.  If you want to plant a goldenrod but fear their nature, look for clump forming cultivated beauties like Solidago 'Solar Cascade', Solidago caesia/Bluestem Goldenrod, Solidago odora, Solidago rugosa 'Fireworks'. My favorite clump former for shade is Solidago flexicaulis/Zigzag Goldenrod.

If you stop by my garden today, you'll see Tall goldenrod/Solidago altissima holding court with New England ex-aster/Symphyotrichum novae-anglia. I love watching the Bumbles dance from aster to aster and goldenrod to goldenrod. 

Goldenrods are considered a keystone species that supports hundreds of different species across the food web. The plant provides food, shelter, and breeding grounds for a vast ecosystem of insects, which in turn sustain larger animals. 

Critter particulars: Sources

Insects 

•  Moths and butterflies: As many as 143 species of Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies) in North America are known to feed on goldenrod leaves and shoots during their larval stage. Goldenrods are especially critical for the monarch butterfly's migration, providing a vital source of nectar in the fall.  (Moth Table)  
• Bees: More than 40 species of native bees are specialists that rely on goldenrod pollen. Queen bumble bees and honey bees, too, feed on goldenrod nectar to build up fat reserves before winter.
• Wasps: Many different wasps use goldenrod. This includes parasitic wasps that lay eggs in goldenrod galls, predatory wasps that hunt other insects on the plant, and many more that feed on its nectar.     
• Flies: Goldenrod gall flies/Eurosta solidaginis lay their eggs inside the stem, causing a gall to form where the larva can safely grow and overwinter. Other types of flies, such as hoverflies and midges, also feed on goldenrod.     
• Beetles: Numerous beetle species consume goldenrod, from pollen-eaters like the locust borer to predators like the goldenrod soldier beetle, which eats aphids.     
• Other insects and arachnids: True bugs (like aphids and stink bugs), grasshoppers, thrips, and ambush bugs all feed on goldenrod.

 Birds      

• Insect-eaters: Birds like woodpeckers and chickadees consume the insects and larvae that shelter in the galls on goldenrod stems, which is a key food source during the winter.     
• Seed-eaters: Once the flowers fade, the seeds provide nourishment for songbirds like eastern goldfinches, juncos, and sparrows during the colder months.     
• Game birds: Larger birds such as turkey, grouse, and pheasant have been known to eat goldenrod leaves and seeds 

 Mammals      

• Seed-eaters: Small mammals like squirrels, raccoons, and opossums eat the seeds from the goldenrod.     
• Browsers: Though often considered deer-resistant, mammals like white-tailed deer, rabbits, and other rodents will sometimes browse the leaves.

 Just a few photos of some of the frequent visitors on goldenrods in my garden

                                    Skippers are frequent visitors on goldenrods.
 

Locust borer

Ambush bug waiting for unsuspecting critters

                             

Green Sweat Bee

                                                                    

More Bumbles

   

Honeybee from neighbor's hive

                                                   

 Ailanthus webworm moth 

Why I recommend goldenrods for your garden.

• Bloom when needed most: bees are provisioning their nests for the winter and monarch butterflies are feeding on nectar that they need for their migratory journey south. 
• They're also a valuable food source for a wide range of pollinators, moths, and other butterflies in other words they support the local ecosystem. 
•  Support more species of moths and butterflies than most plants 
• Host plants: they provide food for the larvae of certain insects, which are then eaten by birds like woodpeckers and chickadees. 
• Tough and adaptable to most garden conditions.
• Low maintenance. 
• Their roots support soil structure and help prevent erosion. 
• Beautiful in bloom.
• They make a spectacular impact  
• Provides seeds over the winter for chickadees, finches, nuthatches and pine siskins as well as shelter in the dried stalks for predatory spiders and wasps.
• Some like Zig zag goldenrod have beautiful fall color.  

 

                                                 The Particulars

 Genus: Solidago 

Family: Asteraceae

Common name: Goldenrod 

Life Cycle: Perennial

Flower Color: Gold/Yellow 

Flower Inflorescence: Corymb, Panicle, Raceme

Flower Bloom Time: Fall/Summer 

Native range: Throughout US

Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) Except the ones that prefer shade

Moisture: Medium to dry

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b 

Propagation: Division, seed 

Comments: Goldenrod is a herbaceous perennial adaptable to poor soil, tolerant of drought once established and has potential to reseed. Consider them for a butterfly garden, drought tolerant garden, native plant habitat, pollinator garden, rain garden, naturalistic garden and a meadow. There's sure to be a perfect one for your garden conditions.

Wildlife Value: Birds eat the plant's seed. This plant supports Wavy-lined Emerald (Synchlora aerata) larvae. It also attracts butterflies, bees, and wasps. The genus Solidago supports the following specialized bees: Andrena (Callandrena s.l.) asteris, Andrena (Callandrena s.l.) braccata, Andrena (Cnemidandrena) hirticincta, Andrena (Cnemidandrena) nubecula, Andrena (Callandrena s.l.) simplex, Perdita (Perdita) octomaculata, Melissodes (Eumelissodes) fumosus, Colletes simulans, and Colletes solidaginis. It is a common host of the beneficial beetle, the goldenrod soldier beetle.

 

Goldenrod gall

Dear Readers, Thank you for stopping by to see our September Wildflower Wednesday star! Goldenrods don't scare me! I hope that I've been able to show you that there's much more good than bad in these golden beauties that light up our fall gardens and provide for critters. Check with a local native plant nursery in your part of the world to find the best goldenrods for your garden. xoxogail

PS If you want to provide for fall pollinators you must plant landing pads of deliciousness like Goldenrods. And you must never, ever, ever, ever, use pesticides in your garden. I mean never!

 

Thank you for stopping by and welcome to Clay and Limestone's Wildflower Wednesday celebration. WW is about sharing and celebrating wildflowers from all over this great big, beautiful world. Join us on the fourth Wednesday of each month. Remember, it doesn't matter if your wildflower is in bloom or not; and, it doesn't matter if we all share the same plants.

 Gail Eichelberger is a gardener, Tennessee Naturalist and nature writer in Middle Tennessee. She loves wildflowers and native plants and thoroughly enjoys writing about the ones she grows at Clay and Limestone. She reminds all that the words and images are the property of the author and cannot be used without written permission.