Showy goldenrod
Solidago speciosa Nutt.
Also called showy goldenrod.
Clump-forming goldenrod with dense, upright club-shaped spikes of bright yellow flowers in late summer and fall. Stays where it is planted, unlike the running goldenrods.
Size over time
Typical landscape size 0.6–1.2 m (2–4 ft) tall and 0.5–0.6 m (18–24 in) wide; medium growth, about 3 years to maturity. Intermediate sizes use the planner’s growth curve (k = 0.25) from the #1 install size.
Bloom
Yellow flowers, Aug–Oct (northern-hemisphere months; timing shifts with region and season).
| Plant | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Showy goldenrod : Aug–Oct |
Design notes
- Lean, well-drained soil keeps stems upright.
- Goldenrod is insect-pollinated and is not a hay fever cause (that is ragweed).
Regions
Native range: Eastern and central North America.
Native to these OpenLandscape3D pilot regions:
Native status describes where the species occurs naturally. It is not a promise that it suits a particular garden; site conditions decide that.
In the guides
Showy goldenrod comes up in this guide:
Related plants
Try Showy goldenrod in a plan
Opens your own copy of a finished sample garden in the planner with Showy goldenrod ready to place; the planner checks it against that garden’s zone, light and moisture.
Plan with Showy goldenrod
Place it in a design, check it against your zone, light and moisture, and see it at year three and year ten.