← Bedfellow

Giant Goldenrod

Solidago gigantea

Giant goldenrod, or smooth goldenrod, rises on smooth, waxy stems in moist meadows and stream edges, crowned with arching golden plumes. A robust pollinator magnet for damp, sunny ground. Like other goldenrods, young leaves and stems are cooked, and the flowers and leaves brew into a tea.

Family

Asteraceae

Type

wildflower

Lifespan

perennial

Height

3–7 ft

Spacing

2–6 ft apart

Light

sun, part shade

Soil moisture

moist

Soil pH

acidic, neutral, alkaline

Bloom

August, September, October

Bloom colors

yellow

Wildlife value

butterflies, larval host

Caterpillar hosts

~125 butterfly & moth species

Landscape uses

naturalizing, rain garden

Native states

AL, AR, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY