GOLDEN
ROD
Family COMPOSITAE
Solidago species
Perennial
A genus with natives of North America and Europe
that are mainstays of the late summer flower border.
The plants are erect in habit with stems well
clothed with leaves of oval, pointed character
and heads of yellow feathery panicles, comprising
many small flowers on arching stems, in effect
not unlike a yellow Astilbe.
The species vary considerably from the tall Solidago
canadensis with its panicles borne on four- to
six-feet stems to Solidago brachystachys, a dwarfish
carpeter, six to nine inches high.
Solidago virgaurea,, the native Golden Rod, two to
three feet, with dense terminal heads, is the
origin of a number of garden varieties, notably
ballardi, rich golden yellow;
“Golden Wings”,
the finest of all;
nana, a dwarf of eighteen inches;
“Goldstrahl”
“Mimosa”
“Sunset”.
Solidago odora, not generally known in gardens,
has a scent similar to Anise.
All may be grown easily in any good garden soil
in full sun or semi-shade, and are useful as foils
to the tall and dwarf blue and purple Michaelmas
Daisies.
Propagate by division and from seed.
Solidago – Golden Rod
Two to five feet.
Flowers yellow, July to September.
Hardy border or shrubbery plants, with long tufted
plumes of yellow flowers.
They like strong loamy soil, and are apt to encroach
on their neighbours.
Plenty of room should be allowed them; where space
is tight, they had better not be introduced.
The best sorts are altissima, rigida and Shortii.
The flowering season is in late summer.
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