Solidago odora ‘Sweet Goldenrod’Marjorie Harris/The Globe and Mail
Many years ago, our kids were terrified of goldenrod, one of the loveliest plants of autumn. They had it drilled into them that it could cause allergies. But that's nonsense. It's actually ragweed that floats everywhere and creates havoc for allergy-sufferers. Goldenrod, on the other hand, is one of our finest late-season native plants and we do not honour it properly. It's not sold nearly as much as it should be.
The many new forms of Goldenrod are exciting, given their wide range of foliage, from the brittle, zig-zaggy S. flexicaulis to the sensual S. juncea (early goldenrod) to the upright smartness of S. rigida. They grow from a few centimtres up to a couple of metres tall. You could have a field of goldenrods merrily hybridizing into so many new and luscious forms they would never stop dazzling.
But most of us don't have space for experimentation, so we confine ourselves to one or two of a species like S. odora or a cultivar like the magnificent S. rugosa 'Firework,' which will grow to one and a half metres tall or more.
Sweet Goldenrod blooms in July and keeps on going for weeks. I chose it for my garden because it has a sweet smell, and enchanting tiny gold blooms held upright over strong dark green leaves. It's a prairie plant that grows in some shade – which is a rare and interesting concept. It's like drawing sunlight into the edge of a forest.
Every garden should have a small patch of goldenrod, and not only for its looks. As Margaret Serrao of Fiesta Gardens in Toronto explains, "We need Solidago because it's a rich source of nectar for the late butterflies heading down to Mexico."
Goldenrod generally needs a lot of sun (at least six hours a day); but it doesn't require organically rich soil, which will just build foliage instead of the more valuable flowers. Another must is good drainage and placement for good air circulation. Don't crowd it into the garden. And keep it deadheaded so it won't spread seed. The seeds are heavy and any species will germinate with no trouble. Cultivars, of course, are supposed to be sterile, but I wouldn't take chances.
Find Solidago odora 'Sweet Goldenrod' at garden centres such as Fiesta Gardens in Toronto (416-537-1244), where it retails for $15.95.
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