Solidago ulmifolia

Common Names

Elm-Leaved Goldenrod, Elmleaf Goldenrod, Elm-Leaf Goldenrod, Elm-Leafed Goldenrod

Summary

Elm-leaved goldenrod is a native North American perennial in the Asteraceae, typically growing 1 to 4 feet tall with arching sprays of small yellow flower heads atop elm-like alternate leaves, with flower heads containing 3 to 6 yellow ray florets and 4 to 7 disk florets and blooming in late summer to fall for several weeks, forming clonal colonies via rhizomes, it tolerates a range of soils from moist loams to rocky soils and prefers full sun to partial shade, making it suitable for woodland margins, edges, and native plantings, in cultivation it is low maintenance and drought-tolerant once established, deer- and rabbit-resistant, and attracts bees and butterflies, it can naturalize by rhizomes to form colonies, planting in zones 3 to 8 with well-drained soil and adequate sun supports its growth, while periodic thinning or division helps manage spread and airflow, with potential issues including rust, powdery mildew, and leaf spots in some conditions, making it well suited for cottage, native, pollinator, woodland, or naturalized prairie plantings.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

12 inches-3 feet

Spread

12-36 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3-8

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally partial shade to partial sun.

Soil Type

Moist, well-drained soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil; do not let the soil become soggy or waterlogged.

Bloom Color

Yellow

Bloom Time

Late Summer to Fall

Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Moderate

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Division, Rhizomes

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, other pollinators, and birds