Early Goldenrod

Solidago pinetorum (so-li-DAY-go pin-eh-TOHR-um)

Family: Asteraceae Native Herbaceous

Solidago pinetorum, or Small's Goldenrod, is a herbaceous perennial wildflower. It has a much smaller native range than other Goldenrod species. The plant is typically found in open spaces such as pine woodlands or on hillsides. Small's Goldenrod spreads by means of rhizomes. It blossoms in late summer with a showy display of up to 350 small yellow flower heads balanced atop branching stems. Small's Goldenrod is native to sandy soils and rocky sand bars in open places and dry woods in Virginia and the Carolinas. Small's Goldenrod produces alleleopathic compounds that suppress the growth of other plants and, thus, it can become weedy. Although goldenrod is often blamed for hay fever because it is in bloom during that season, ragweed is the actual culprit. Goldenrod does well in dry soil and sites that have been disturbed by humans. It prefers full to partial sun, and average moisture levels. This plant will tolerate some drought, in which case it will probably drop some of its lower leaves. It also tolerates a variety of soils, seeming to prefer a heavier soil with some clay content. It is extremely rhizomatous and not recommended for smaller planting areas. The root system is fibrous, producing creeping rhizomes that cause the plants to cluster, sometimes forming dense colonies. Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems: During the fall, powdery mildew occasionally attacks the leaves. More information on Solidago .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 47 attributes.