Plus garden to-do's for August and September
By L.A. JacksonEven in the lessening light of the late summer sun, there is still a bright botanical show to be seen, as one of the flashiest plants of the waning growing season has begun shining its brilliant yellow glow across fields, meadows, landscapes and gardens. Unfortunately, it also happens to be a very misunderstood plant — goldenrod (Solidago sp.).
Mention goldenrod and many sufferers of hay fever will brace themselves to get ready for a big “A-A-A-CHOO-O-O!” because the pollen from its flowers will make you sneeze, right? Wrong. Examine the pollen on a cluster of goldenrod blossoms, and you will find that it is not light enough to become wind-borne and drift up the snoot.
What’s really happening is the inconspicuous blooms of ragweed flowering at the same time as goldenrod. Ragweed has minute pollen that can easily fly away in the slightest breeze. So the real culprit is ragweed, but the showy clusters of goldenrod usually get the blame.
Although mainly native to North America, goldenrod has been embraced by British gardeners for over 250 years. Now though, goldenrod is finding its pretty way into cultivated American gardens as well, and why not? The bright blooms are long-lasting, and these tough-as-nails plants require very little maintenance.
A hardy perennial, goldenrod can be planted anytime, but late summer and early fall are ideal times. For the best blooms, place the plants in an area that receives as much full sun as possible. Depending on the species (and there are about 150), goldenrods can stretch from 1 to 5 feet tall. Pinching back the tips in late spring will promote bushier growth and a fuller display of flowers.
An obvious planting scheme is to mix goldenrod with other plants that also bloom late in the growing season. Need examples? Try bouncing the handsome yellow flowers off the pretty purples of ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis), Mexican bush sage, (Salvia leucantha) or New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae).
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