Your honor, my client, goldenrod, stands accused of creating allergic reactions amongst the general population. This is, in fact, a gross misunderstanding of the facts! It is none other than ragweed whose wind-borne pollen elicits violent sneezes and runny noses annually. Goldenrod is innocent, I say, innocent!
Don’t shy away from goldenrod if allergies are your concern. Wrinkleleaf Goldenrod is an ideal selection for moist or wet areas with plenty of sun, where it will explode with showy, bright yellow flowers in late summer that beckon to pollinators near and far.
Conditions: Full sun; medium to wet soils; tolerant of clay soils
Size: 3’-5’ tall, 1.5’-2.5’ spread
Zone: 4 - 8
Wildlife Value: Flowers attract wide variety of butterflies, skippers, and bees, including several pollen specialists; larval host for dozens of butterflies and moths, including the Asteroid and Brown-hooded Owlet
Photo: Botsci