Solidago speciosa (Showy Goldenrod)

Native perennial • Fall nectar powerhouse • Keystone pollinator plant

Solidago speciosa is a showy, upright goldenrod that delivers high-value nectar late in the season when pollinators need it most. Brilliant gold plumes illuminate fall gardens and feed migrating butterflies, native bees, and beneficial insects.

Light

• Full sun
  
  

• Handles partial sun but blooms best in open sites
  
  

• At least 6 hours direct
  
  

More sun = stronger color + upright stems.

Water

• Moderate watering first year
  
  

• Drought tolerant after establishment
  
  

• Deep watering > frequent shallow watering
  
  

Avoid soggy soil. Thrives in dry, lean sites over time.

 Soil

• Wide soil tolerance
  
  

• Prefers sandy or well-drained soils
  
  

• Avoid heavy fertilizer
  
  

• Does well in poor native soils
  
  

Hardiness

• USDA Zones 4–9
  
  

• Heat tolerant
  
  

• Handles cold winters easily
  
  

Blooming

• Late summer through fall
  
  

• One of the most important late nectar plants
  
  

• Supports:
  
  

  • migrating monarchs
    
    

  • native bees
    
    

  • wasps
    
    

  • beneficial predatory insects
    
    

  • fly pollinators
    
    

Excellent timing when many other natives fade.

Growth Habit

• Upright clumping
  
  

• 2–4 ft tall
  
  

• Slowly spreading rhizomes
  
  

• Not aggressive like some goldenrods
  
  

• One of the best for formal garden beds
  
  

• Misconception Clarifier

Goldenrods do not cause allergies, ragweed does.
Goldenrods are insect-pollinated. Ragweed is wind-pollinated.

Planting Notes

Depth:

• Plant crown at soil surface
  
  

Spacing:

• 18–24 inches
  
  

Divide every 2–3 years to maintain vigor.

 Best Landscape Uses

• Native pollinator gardens
  
  

• Prairie beds
  
  

• Meadow plantings
  
  

• Fall display gardens
  
  

• Naturalistic borders
  
  

• Drought tolerant designs
  
  

• Roadside/native median edges
  
  

•  Companion Plants

Pairs beautifully with:

• Asters (Symphyotrichum)
  
  

• Liatris
  
  

• Rudbeckia
  
  

• Monarda
  
  

• Coreopsis
  
  

• Echinacea
  
  

• Little bluestem
  
  

• Indiangrass
  
  

Native Value

A keystone fall nectar source, especially vital to late-season bees and migrating butterflies. Essential for ecological garden design in the Southeast.

⚠ Common Issues

Floppy stems

Too much shade or fertile soil.

Powdery mildew

Crowded, shady plantings. Increase airflow.

Poor blooming

Needs full sun.