Compact Goldenrods for Impact

by Mark Dwyer

poet, Helen Hunt Jackson (1830-1885), nailed it with the line “I know the lands are lit, with all the autumn blaze of Goldenrod.” Goldenrods (77 native species in the U.S. and Canada) continue to get short shrift in our landscapes as there is valid concern over the size and vigorous nature of some species. With inherent deer resistance, durability, adaptability in a wide range of soils and drought tolerance, what’s not to love about choice goldenrods in the more refined landscape and mixed border?

With such a wide range of goldenrods filling the color void in late summer and early fall, it’s a shame that the best varietal selections continue to be overlooked as many offer vivid, impactful and lengthy floral displays that are also of immense value for pollinators. Granted, some of the larger goldenrods can be a bit unwieldy in the smaller landscape. However, the diverse palette of “waist-high” or shorter options is worthy of exploration.

Once relegated to the back of the border or native applications, select goldenrods can be focal points, role players and compositional rockstars in the mid and front of the border as well with the durable and convenient height ranges between 15” and 36”. Explore the wide selection of amazingly compact goldenrods and incorporate them into your palette of low-maintenance and reliable performers.

At waist height of 36”, the variety ‘Peter Pan’ (aka ‘Goldstrahl’) offers bright yellow flowers borne in dense, plume-like panicles for many weeks. At that same height but with an arching form, Solidago shortii ‘Solar Cascade’ has become a personal favorite. Selected by the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanic Garden, this goldenrod mingles well with neighboring plants due to the showy, cascading stems and long bloom period in late summer until early fall. For another interesting form, I’ve become a fan of Solidago ‘Wichita Mountains’ which has very erect, upright flowering stems with dense flowering on a clump forming plant. I love these colorful, vertical “wands” hovering in the late season garden!

Mid-height goldenrod selections in the 18”-24” range include ‘Golden Baby’ (aka ‘Goldkind’) which is a clumpforming hybrid with dense, horizontal, plume-like flower panicles that seem to bloom forever. The variety ‘Golden Fleece’ (Solidago sphacelata) was selected at Mt. Cuba Center (DE) and introduced in 1989. This amazing plant is a slow spreader and features small, rounded leaves and colorful golden flower sprays well into the fall.

Knee high goldenrods do exist and are fabulous in the late season landscape that benefits from a splash of golden yellow excitement! The variety ‘Little Lemon’ (aka ‘Dansolitlem’) features very dense, light yellow flowers which are quite noteworthy. Blooming at 15”-18” in height, this clump forming perennial is excellent as a repeated accent or in mass plantings. I believe Solidago Sweety (‘Barseven’) is the shortest blooming goldenrod at an amazing 15” in height! With a compact, mounding habit the sprays of lemon-yellow blooms offer many weeks of pizzaz!

As potential ingredients in your late season compositions, these compact goldenrods will not only brighten the landscape but will offer happy and colorful returns for your clients and pollinators alike!