← Bedfellow

Gray Goldenrod

Solidago nemoralis

Also known as: Field Goldenrod

Compact goldenrod for dry sites where taller species flop, though it runs at the root — give it room or an edge. Gray-green foliage; arched one-sided flower plumes. Excellent for poor sandy soils. The seed has been used as food, though it's small and fiddly to harvest.

Family

Asteraceae

Type

wildflower

Lifespan

perennial

Height

0.5–2 ft

Spacing

0.5–2 ft apart

Light

sun, part shade, shade

Soil moisture

dry, moist

Soil pH

neutral

Bloom

June, July, August, September, October

Bloom colors

yellow

Wildlife value

songbirds, pollinators, larval host

Caterpillar hosts

~125 butterfly & moth species

Landscape uses

naturalizing

Native states

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