Solidago speciosa

Scientific Name: Solidago speciosa

Common Name: Showy Goldenrod

Exposure: Full sun to partial shade

Blooming Time: August to October

Bloom Duration: 6 to 8 weeks

Fragrance: Light, sweet fragrance

Plant Growing Habit: Upright, clump-forming

Characteristics: A striking North American native perennial featuring tall, sturdy stems topped with dense, plume-like clusters of bright golden-yellow flowers. Unlike some traditional goldenrods, it has a tidy, non-invasive growth habit and is highly valued for its late-season colour. An exceptional pollinator plant, attracting bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects when many other plants are finishing bloom. Excellent for native gardens, prairie plantings, meadows, borders, and naturalized landscapes.

Spacing: 45 to 60 cm apart

Height: 90 to 150 cm

Width: 45 to 60 cm

Maintenance Requirements: Low maintenance. Prefers full sun and well-drained soil but adapts to a variety of soil types, including sandy, loamy, and clay soils. Water regularly during establishment; once established, it is drought-tolerant. Cut back old stems in late fall or early spring before new growth begins. Deadheading can be done to control self-seeding, although seed heads provide winter interest and food for birds. Fertilization is generally unnecessary, and excessive fertility may cause weak, floppy growth. Hardy and well-suited to Canadian gardens in Zones 3–8.

Images Courtesy of Ball Horticultural Company of Ball Seed or www.ballseed.com