Goldenrods abound in late summer and early fall.  And so does hay fever.  But guess what?  Goldenrod pollen does not float in the air so it can’t get in your nose to make you sneeze.  The real culprit is ragweed.  And mugwort.  And grasses.  All of these have abundant windborne pollen. Here’s a picture showing the sticky pollen that adheres to the legs of pollinators. As they visit from flower to flower, they collect and spread this sticky pollen.

“Bee with full pollen sacs” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by bobosh_t

So load your garden up with goldenrods!  They provide important late season nectar for pollinators and migrating butterflies.  And will really cheer you up as you sniffle from your hay fever.   🙂

There are short goldenrods, tall goldenrods, goldenrods for sun, and goldenrods for shade.  With so many different species, that gives you a clue how important they are.  Mother Nature needed to make sure there were plenty of these important plants.

As the days grow shorter and the air takes on a chill, goldenrod’s bright blossoms warm the fall garden palette.  And they  attract butterflies and sustain bees, too! As an added bonus, goldenrod is usually shunned by white tail deer.

ZIGZAG GOLDENROD (Solidago flexicaulis)

STIFF GOLDENROD (Solidago rigida)

SWEET GOLDENROD (Solidago odora)

SHOWY GOLDENROD (Solidago speciosa)

SILVEROD GOLDENROD (Solidago biccolor)

CREEPING GOLDENROD (Solidago sphacelata ‘Golden Fleece’)

SHORT’S GOLDENROD (Solidago shortii ‘Solar Cascade’ )

Fireworks Goldenrod (Solidago rugosa ‘Fireworks’)

Full Sun Zones 4-8
Medium to Wet Soil
2.5′-3′
Clay Soil OK, Deer Tolerant
Butterflies, pollinators, songbirds

Photo Credit:”Fireworks Goldenrod 2012” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by F. D. Richards

SOLIDAGO SEMPERVIRENS (Seaside Goldenrod)

BLUESTEM GOLDENROD (Solidago caesia)

“20150919_4952 Solidago caesia” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by chipmunk_1

Solidago nemoralis (Gray Goldenrod)

Full sun, Zones 3-9
Up to 2′; Clay, sand, shallow rocky soil OK
Deer and Drought tolerant

Butterflies, pollinators, birds, specialized bees
Photo Credit: “Gray Goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis)” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by wackybadger