This large group of perennial plants come from North America in the main. They are a woodland plant and have a history of being used as a medicinal herb as well as being attractive garden plants.
They flower late in the season and with attractive yellow flowers held above the foliage make a welcome addition to the garden as summer comes to an end.
S.gigantea is known as the Giant Goldenrod and will reach to around 2 metres in height. Attractive flowers that attract a range of beneficial insects to the garden as well as bees and birds.
Excellent in a cottage garden where they will happily self seed they prefer a well drained soil and plenty of sun. A diverse genus related to the sunflowers.
Varieties
A number of species are available including
- S.sphacelata – ‘Golden Fleece’
- S.cutleri – ‘Gold Rush
- S.rigida – ‘Golden Rod’
- S.nemoralis – ‘Golden Rod’
- S.rugosa – ‘Golden Rod’
- S.juncea – ‘Golden Rod’
- S.flexicualis – ‘Golden Rod’
- S.speciosa – ‘Golden Rod’
- S.caesia – ‘Golden Rod’
- S. virgaurea
- S.canadensis
- S.gigantea
Propagation
Propagation is easy form seed sown in spring, in good conditions Goldenrod species will self seed and may need to deadheaded in some gardens.