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Not Guilty: Enjoy the vilified goldenrod
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Published: October 9, 2009
Goldenrod has gotten a bad rap. The golden-yellow flower that sets autumn roadsides alight is rarely appreciated as a wildflower -- and often falsely
accused of being the source of hay-fever pollen.
One hard look at the plant on a sunny, autumn day should dispel the blame for your runny nose and itchy eyes. Goldenrod is always a bustle of insect activity. Bees, wasps, flies, butterflies and beetles teem on the flowers, indicating that their pollen is spread by insects. The real culprits for autumn allergy sufferers are grasses and ragweed, both of which rely on the wind to do the work of pollination.
Ragweed is a drab plant, so it is easy to point fingers at the much more colorful goldenrod and jump to conclusions.
Two kinds of ragweed are prevalent: common ragweed and giant ragweed. Both are inconspicuous plants, though giant ragweed, living up to its name, can reach 15 feet. Both ragweeds bear tall spikes of flowers that are a yellowish green. Because they are wind pollinated, they don't waste energy on color or scent. The wind doesn't care about color or smell.
It's too bad that goldenrod is essentially ignored in the garden. It's wonderful this time of year to mix with dark purple asters and salvias and to compliment apricot and rust-colored mums.
The wild goldenrod can be a bit rangy, but breeders have worked on improving this trait. The best of the cultivated goldenrods is one called Fireworks, which sends out plumes of golden-yellow flower sprays that look like -- you guessed it -- fireworks. The plant remains inconspicuous for the better part of the year, but around the beginning of October it begins to throw its beautiful tapering flowers. The plant grows about 3-feet tall under ideal conditions.
Fireworks has an interesting local history. The original plant turned up at the North Carolina Botanical Garden in a group of plants rescued from Wilson, according to the Gardens Web site.
After further investigation, it was determined how unique this variety is. The Gardens introduced the plant through Niche Gardens, a nursery in the Chapel Hill area. Since its introduction in 1993, it has spread throughout the country in the nursery trade.
Fireworks does not come true from seed. It is easily divided in the spring. Just cut a clump out of the mass with a sharp spade and move it to its new spot.
Another goldenrod that has its origins in North Carolina is called Golden Fleece. It was discovered as a seedling in Eden and introduced by the Mt. Cuba Center in Greenville, Del. The Mt. Cuba Center "is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting an appreciation for plants native to the Piedmont, encouraging their use in gardens and supporting their conservation in nature."
Golden Fleece is a low-growing, compact plant that can be used as a ground cover. It produces 18-inch plants with a branching habit and golden-yellow flowers from September into October. It is an eye-catching plant in the front of a border where it will spread out and form low mounds.
There are about 100 species of goldenrods, most of which are native North American plants. They grow in diverse habitats from full sun to part shade and wet to dry soils depending on the species. Fireworks and Golden Fleece want full sun for most of the day, though they can tolerate some afternoon shade. Though both of these cultivars are clumping plants, some goldenrods spread through runners and can be invasive in a garden setting. Care should be taken with selection. These cultivars are also resistant to two common problems with goldenrod: powdery mildew and rust. Both are common fungal diseases in our area.
Goldenrod, a harbinger of the autumn color soon to sweep the trees, is a worthy -- and sneeze-free -- addition to the garden.
An excellent evaluation of the different species of goldenrod is available through the Chicago Botanic Garden at www.chicagobotanic.org/downloads/planteval_notes/n....
■ My Sept. 25 column on Ricky Holder and his efforts at growing a giant pumpkin has concluded with a happy ending. When we last left Holder he was off to the Yadkin Valley Pumpkin Festival, an official weigh-in station for the state. The pumpkin weighed in at 1,258 pounds, a new state record. The previous record was 960 pounds. The pumpkin is on display at the Dixie Classic Fair in the agriculture building.
If you have a gardening question or story idea, write to David Bare in care of Features, Winston-Salem Journal, P.O. Box 3159, Winston-Salem, NC 27101-3159, or send e-mail to his attention to gardening@wsjournal.com.
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