Sun Exposure: Sun, Part Sun
Soil Moisture: Medium-Wet, Medium, Medium-Dry, Dry
Soil Type: Sand, Loam, Loam-Clay, Gravely
Height: 4 feet
Spread: 2 feet
Blooms: August, September, October
Root: Fibrous, Deep
Habitat: Prairies, Savannas, Open areas, Thickets
Landscape uses: Pollinator gardens, Meadow plantings, Naturalization, Drought resistant
Complimentary Plants: Little Bluestem, Big Bluestem, New England Aster, White Aster
Wildlife Value: The flowers attract many kinds of insects, including long-tongued bees, short-tongued bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, and beetles. Monarch butterflies are especially attracted to the flowers. Host Plant: Supports over 100 species of caterpillars
Seed Origin: Coldwater, ON (Wildflower Farm seed supplier)
Germination Code: C60
Photo credits: Sundaura Alford-Purvis
Solidago rigida - Stiff Goldenrod
Stiff Goldenrod has bold flat-topped flower clusters on a than most Goldenrods. The leaves turn nice shades of red in the fall.
Goldenrods often get blamed for causing the dreaded hayfever. This is simply not true. Their pollen is quite large and sticky to better adhere to the body of visiting insects. Because of this, goldenrod pollen cannot become airborne and can never make its way into your sinuses. The true cause of hayfever is the wind pollinated ragweeds, which broadcast copious amounts of lightweight pollen into the air. We cannot stress enough how important goldenrods are on the landscape. Including them on your property will provide ecosystem services well into the fall when most other plant life is shutting down.Along with a few other goldenrod species, Stiff Goldenrod has been recently reassigned from the Solidago genus to the Oligoneuron genus.