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Goldenrods: Top Plants for Boosting Biodiversity

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Wreath goldenrod, Solidago caesia (photo by Fritz Flohr Reynolds).

Wreath goldenrod, Solidago caesia (photo by Fritz Flohr Reynolds).

“A weed is but an unloved flower.”
— Ella Wheeler

The land is awash with sprays of amber, lemon, and yellow from the wild goldenrods that proliferate in meadows, roadsides, forest edges, and vacant lots this time of year. These misunderstood, underappreciated, and spectacularly diverse plants have been lumped into the common category of "goldenrod" and unfairly blamed for hay fever. The showy colorful blooms with their heavy, sticky pollen are obviously designed to attract insect pollinators, while the real culprit - common ragweed - is wind pollinated and blooms at the same time. A - choo!

Generations of us have long-dismissed goldenrods as "weeds", but as the late poet Ella Wheeler Wilcox sagely pointed out: "a weed is but an unloved flower". While it's true that farmers continue to battle Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis; a colonizer of fields), this is only one species out of 25 native goldenrods in New England. From shade to sun, wooded edges to meadows, they each have their own niche on the landscape.

Pay attention. This next fact is an important one.

Goldenrods are the top-ranked herbaceous plants for biodiversity and provide important late-season nectar and pollen for our declining pollinators.

I'd say it's high time we give these goldenrods some love, wouldn't you?! I'll start...

Photos

In this collage are three species of goldenrod growing wild in my "habitat garden" (i.e. my intentionally wild and naturalistic yard). I just allowed these plants to grow up, show their flowers, and feed the bees, butterflies, and birds. If they grow up in a place I don't want them I merely edit them out. This patient intentional approach delivers huge rewards in the form of free flowers that boost biodiversity and bring life to the landscape!

Clockwise from top left: wrinkle-leaved goldenrod (Solidago rugosa; Poland Spring), wreath goldenrod (Solidago caesia; Poland Spring), common grass-leaved-goldenrod (Euthamia graminifolia; Poland Spring), seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens; Biddeford Pool); photos by Deb Perkins.

Just one of the many moments that I have been known to stop and admire the pollinators of goldenrod (photo by Jen Dean Photography).

Just one of the many moments that I have been known to stop and admire the pollinators of goldenrod (photo by Jen Dean Photography).

I hope you enjoyed this Phenology Note!

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#ThePersonalEcologistI partner with eco-minded landowners to create thriving wildlife habitats in their backyards, gardens, fields and farms, woods or campuses - at any scale.I have 25 years of experience in my field, and a lifelong commitment to wi…

#ThePersonalEcologist

I co-create biodiverse habitats with eco-minded stewards throughout the Northeast - at any scale.

I have 30 years of experience and a lifelong commitment to wildlife conservation.

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Deborah Perkins