Sweet goldenrod is a low maintenance herbaceous perennial wildflower. Growing 1-2 feet tall, it has gracefully arching stems of yellow flowers that erupt from basal clumps in the late summer and early fall. It is primarily clump-forming and does not spread aggressively as do some of the other goldenrod species and hybrids. This plant naturalizes well, is drought resistant and tolerates clay soil. It is also more tolerant of shadier condituons than other goldenrods. It would grow well along a border or in a butterfly, cottage, or herb garden. It is often accused of causing hay fever because it blooms at the same time as some wind-borne pollen plants (like ragweed). Fire Risk: This plant has a medium flammability rating. Seasons of Interest: Bloom: Late summer, August-September, fall; Fruit/Seed/Nut: Fall Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. Rust, powdery mildew, and leaf spot may occur. VIDEO: Part of the Native Plant Picks series from the North Carolina Sea Grant led Coastal Landscapes Initiative . More information on Solidago .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf value
Fragrant
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Fragrant leaves smell like anise. Dark green leaves up to 4" long. They are lance-shaped, sessile, parallel-veined, untoothed and marked with translucent dots.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Showy
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Yellow flowers bloom from July to October. Flowers appear in branched plume-like clusters that look pyramidal.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, 1-3 inches wide
Fruit detail
Brown, hairy tufts, cone-shape wind-dispersed. Displays from August to November.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Smooth or downy stems.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
North America
Wildlife value
This plant supports Wavy-lined Emerald (Synchlora aerata) larvae. Attractive to bees and butterflies. Members of the genus Solidago support the following specialized bees: Andrena (Callandrena s.l.) asteris, Andrena (Callandrena s.l.) braccata, Andrena (Cnemidandrena) canadensis, Andrena (Cnemidandrena) hirticincta, Andrena (Cnemidandrena) nubecula, Andrena (Callandrena s.l.) simplex, Perdita (Perdita) octomaculata, Melissodes (Eumelissodes) fumosus, Colletes simulans, and Colletes solidaginis. Songbirds eat the seeds.