Plant Profile: Goldenrods (Solidago sp.)

Posted on September 28, 2022 by Scott Vogt

Right now in prairies, woodlands, roadside ditches and home gardens, wonderful displays of native grasses along with wildflowers blooming yellow, white, and lavender are putting on quite a show. The yellow wildflowers are most likely either sunflowers or goldenrods. Each is quite beautiful and teeming with pollinators.

Solidago ‘Wichita Mountains’ blooming in the Compassionate Friends Garden

Goldenrods are just as diverse and variable as sunflowers. While many landscape plants have already reached their peak and the flowers have faded by September, goldenrods have become the stars of the show as they brighten up the landscape. Their golden yellow autumn inflorescences are striking.

In spite of their attractiveness, goldenrods have a reputation for causing allergies. In truth, this is unlikely, because goldenrod pollen is large and heavy and is not carried by the wind. Rather, it is giant ragweed (Ambrosia sp.) that is spreading pollen through the air at the same time.

These wildflowers are insect-pollinated by many wasps, moths, beetles, honey bees, monarch butterflies and other beneficial pollinators searching for a sip of nectar. In total, 11 specialist bees and 115 different caterpillars need these plants. There are around 50 species of insects with immature forms that feed on the stems of goldenrod. In addition, seeds and foliage provide food for some birds and mammals. Across the board, goldenrods are of huge value to wildlife and one of the keystone wildflowers for pollinators.

Gray Goldenrod-Solidago nemoralis

Goldenrods are adaptable to a wide range of conditions in nature, making them a great choice as a landscape plant. They grow naturally in soils from wet to dry. Even the drought conditions we have been experiencing have not kept these denizens of the prairie from blooming. There is a goldenrod that will grow in your garden.

For all their positive attributes, there are goldenrod species that don’t belong in a formal garden. Canada goldenrod for example is a highly aggressive species that spreads by underground rhizomes and seed, ultimately pushing out other smaller desirable plants. It will take over a garden in a couple of years. However, in a prairie setting with the deep roots of native grasses and competition from other plants, it can be mostly kept in check. That is why we recommend clump-forming goldenrods as a more reliable choice for the landscape relegating those aggressive species to the prairie or outskirts of the landscape (along a fence or in an alley) where they are free to roam and spread.

I like Solidago rigida, Solidago nemoralis, Solidago ‘Wichita Mountains’, Solidago canadensis ‘Golden Baby’, and Solidago ‘Fireworks’ for sunny areas. For shade, I choose to plant Solidago odora, Solidago ulmifolius or Solidago caesia. It is safe to say that goldenrods are powerhouse plants that deserve a place in your native garden.

Rigid Goldenrod-Solidago rigida (top) and gray goldenrod (bottom)

Solidago rugosa ‘Fireworks’

Planting for Pollinators

Posted on September 18, 2019 by Scott Vogt

One of the hottest trends in horticulture is planting for pollinators. In tending our gardens, we all want to do our part to make it easier for butterflies, bees, and other winged friends to find the plants they need for survival.

September is a great time to plant wildflowers. If you keep pollinators in mind as you plant, they will come. Try a few of these summer and late-season wildflowers in your landscape. They are pollinator-magnets.

Rigid Goldenrod

Goldenrods get a bad rap. They don’t cause hay fever. However, they do attract all sorts of wildlife to their bright yellow flowers in late summer.

Aromatic Aster ‘Raydon’s Favorite’ and ‘October Skies’

This is one of my favorite asters. They each have nice lavender flowers in late-September into October. These plants are abuzz with activity as pollinators seek the last sips of nectar before migrating or hibernating for the winter.

Swamp Milkweed

This milkweed is vital to monarchs as they migrate back south to Mexico. The pink blooms appear at the right time to provide the energy they need to complete their journey.

New England Aster

This wildflower prefers a medium to moist soil. The dark purple to pink flowers attract tremendous diversity of pollinators to the flowers in fall. I like variety ‘Purple Dome’ with its shorter habit and dark purple flowers.

Coneflowers

There are so many varieties of coneflowers. I love the new colors but have really come to appreciate the true native species Narrow-leaf coneflower, Pale purple coneflower, Yellow purple coneflower and Purple coneflower. The rounded cones make perfect landing pads for all sorts of insects searching for pollen.

Black-eyed Susan

This easy to grow wildflower is one of the best pollinator plants. The yellow flowers with the dark center attract a host of pollinators in including Great Spangled Fritillary.

Rudbeckia ‘*American Gold Rush’ Photo courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.*

Liatris mucronata

Dotted gayfeather is blooming right now in the arboretum. The lavender spikes lay lower to the ground than other taller forms but these late season wildflowers are still attractive to bees and butterflies of all shapes and sizes.

Native Grasses

Don’t forget the native grasses. Many pollinators overwinter in clumps of grasses such as little bluestem and switchgrass. Besides their beautiful fall color, these denizens of the prairie provide great texture and structure in the winter garden, too.

*Aster ‘October Skies’ with the dark purple blooms of ‘Purple Dome’ aster with a backdrop of little bluestem*

Scott’s Top Ten Sun-Loving Plants for Spring 2015

Posted on April 20, 2015 by Scott Vogt

One of the themes this spring for planting is diversity. By planting a diversity of wildflowers and grasses in your garden, you will attract many different forms of wildlife, including pollinators and birds. A wide variety of plants blooming at different times of the year will provide interest and beauty throughout the growing season.

As we have been busily getting ready for the plant sale this week, I can’t help but notice the diversity of plants available this spring. There are so many wonderful plants to choose and incorporate into a landscape setting.

Here are my top sun-loving plants for the spring sale:

Green Antelopehorn (Asclepias viridis)

This is the 2015 Kansas Native Plant Society wildflower of the year. It grows 18 to 24 inches tall with green flowers in May and June. It loves full sun and thrives in dry prairies. Monarchs use milkweeds as a host plants. Grow this species or any other milkweeds to increase habitat for the perilous populations of monarchs.

Photo courtesy Walters Gardens.

Penstemon ‘Dark Towers’

It is beautiful in flower and foliage. In early spring, the whitish-pink tubular flowers emerge. Bees and even hummingbirds flock to these flowers to sip the sweet nectar. Not only is it attractrive when blooming but the maroon-purple foliage adds interest the rest of the year. A plant for the front of a border that is attractive at many different seasons of the year.

Blue Grama, Boutleoua gracilis ‘Blonde Ambition’

I was blown away by this grass last summer. It looked fantastic with the airy golden flowers all summer. The horizontal eyelash-like flowers wave in the wind atop the fine blue-green foliage. It grows effortlessly in any sunny site and just about any soil. Great in mass plantings or along borders edges. Quite the dramatic, unique grass.

Ironplant, Vernonia lettermanii ‘Iron Butterfly’

I have grown to appreciate the toughness of this wildflower. This selection found in Arkansas has fine foliage like Amsonia hubrichtii but stays more compact. The dark purple flowers cover the entire plant in late summer attracting pollinators by the herd. It thrives in hot dry locations. When other plants are wilting, it is performing like a champ.

Photo courtesy Walters Gardens.

Arkansas Bluestar, Amsonia hubrichtii

I have put this plant on my top ten list just about every year because it is a great plant. Sky blue flowers in spring develop atop stems with narrow leaves that whorl the stem. Each plant can grow about three feet tall and three feet wide. The real show is in the fall as the entire plant turns a beautiful golden yellow. Plant in mass or alone in the middle of the border. A garden worthy plant that should be used more.

Photo courtesy Walters Gardens.

Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium ‘Twilight Zone’

This is a new and improved form of native Little Bluestem. It colors up beautifully in the early fall but the iridescent silver-mauve foliage from spring to fall is eye-catching. Growing stiffly upright, this grass reaches three to four feet tall by the end of summer. Plant as a backdrop for other perennials because the foliage is a wonderful complement. Great native grass for interesting foliage and form.

Photo courtesy Terra Nova Nursery.

Agastache ‘Raspberry Summer’

What an awesome perennial! The large, dark raspberry pink blooms cover this plant all summer and into fall. Pollinators flock to the blooms and make the plant come alive with activity. Plant in full sun and well-drained soil.

Yellow Purple Coneflower Echinacea paradoxa

A yellow purple coneflower is a paradox. However, it is tough and beautiful. The flowers emerge in May and June with long yellow ray petals. It grows best in full sun, ultimately reaching 3-4 feet tall. Mix with native grasses like Little Bluestem or Switchgrass to showcase the attractive seedheads later in the year.

Solidago ‘Little Lemon’ Photo courtesy of North Creek Nurseries

Solidago “Little Lemon’

Goldenrods get a bad rap for causing allergies. Actually, they don’t cause your allergies in the fall – that is the fault of the ragweed pollen instead. So now that you know that tid-bit of information, you can plant this dwarf goldenrod in your garden. It grows to 12 inches tall and mixes well with short grasses along a border or edge. Plant in full sun for best results.

Photo courtesy Walters Gardens.

Beebalm Monarda ‘Cherry Pops’

Brilliant cherry-red flowers cover this new bee balm in midsummer. The well-branched plants have clean mildew-resistant foliage creating a compact mound. Each nectar sweet flower attracts hosts of pollinators throughout the summer. Great new form for the front of a border or along a sidewalk.

It is time to get these plants in the ground. The beneficial rains of the past few weeks have really got me itching to plant some of these varieties this spring. There are so many beautiful plants that are worth trying. Hopefully, you will have a chance to stop by the plant sale, take a look and give some of them a try in your own garden.