Solidago speciosa

Common Names

Showy Goldenrod, Goldenrod, Noble Goldenrod, Prairie Goldenrod

Summary

Showy Goldenrod (Solidago speciosa) is a North American native perennial typically 3–5 feet tall, with erect, multi-stemmed growth and dense, pyramidal clusters of bright yellow flowers that bloom from late summer into autumn. It forms from fibrous and rhizomatous roots, spreading modestly in well-drained soils, and occurs across the eastern and central United States into southern Ontario in dry to moderately moist habitats such as prairies, savannas, fields, and woodland edges.

It provides late-season nectar for pollinators including native bees and butterflies and seeds for birds; it is valued in native gardens, prairie plantings, and butterfly or wildflower meadows. It propagates by seed or division, with clumps recommended to be divided every 2–3 years to manage size; it tolerates a range of soils from sandy to clay and is drought-tolerant once established, though may spread more aggressively in moist soils.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

12-60 inches

Spread

24-36 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3-8

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally Full Sun, tolerates Partial Sun.

Soil Type

Well-drained soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil

Soil pH

Acidic to neutral soils.

Bloom Color

Yellow

Bloom Time

Late Summer to Fall

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Gray

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Moderate growth rate; spreads via underground rhizomes.

Seasons of Interest

Summer and Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds and Division

Attracts Wildlife

Bees, butterflies, other pollinators, and birds are attracted