Stiff Goldenrod

Stiff Goldenrod is a good choice for prairie gardens, cottage gardens and pollinator gardens. It is a resilient, self seeds and you might need to control its growth. Compared to most goldenrods, stiff goldenrod has larger, flatter flower clusters. In the fall, the leaves change to lovely colors of red. Plant Stiff Goldenrod alongside other fall bloomers, including Button Blazing Star, Little Bluestem, New England Aster, and Sweet Black-Eyed Susan, for a vibrant fall display. In terms of common names, you might come across Prairie Goldenrod or Rigid Goldenrod. Solidago rigida has a different botanical name.

Oligoneuron rigidum is the usual Latin name for Stiff Goldenrod. The leaves resemble those of the Velvety Goldenrod, a rare species found in Northern America (Solidago Mollis). It features smaller blooms, mid- to upper-stem leaves that are not clasped, and lower leaves that typically wither by flowering time.

Growing Stiff Goldenrod

You’ll discover that growing stiff goldenrod plants is surprisingly simple if you know how to do it. Although stiff goldenrod plants are extremely tolerant, they do require a position that receives direct sunlight. For instance, stiff Goldenrod can begin to grow in practically any type of soil. However, the plant thrives in moist, well-drained soil and needs the least strenuous goldenrod care.

Growth and Invasiveness

Stiff Goldenrod is a prolific self-seeder on numerous sites. It thrives in a variety of soil types. Thus removing the seed head before it ripens is preferable to eliminating undesirable seedlings on small sites or in home gardens or landscapes. This Goldenrod easily self-seeds; therefore, removing the seed heads may be necessary for smaller situations to prevent undesirable spread. The Stiff Goldenrod is an essential habitat species for the fall landscape because of its crucial ecosystem services and radiant beauty.

Flower and appearance

A flat-topped group of 3/8-inch yellow blooms with ray flowers, which have 6 to 13 small petals (ray flowers), and disk flowers, which have up to 35 petals each, each measuring 2 to 5 inches wide. Sometimes the rays have broad, rounded tips, while other times, they have narrower, pointed tips.

Along the stem, leaves alternate with basal leaves. The leaves are grayish green in hue, rough with short bristly hairs, egg- to oval-shaped, and typically toothless, though they occasionally contain a few shallow, rounded teeth. The leaves on the base and lower stems range in size from 3 to 8 inches long and up to 2 inches wide. They suddenly taper at the base to a long stalk and typically last until flowering.

Mid-stem leaves may reach a length of 2 inches, get shorter as they move up the stem, occasionally have wavy edges, are relatively stiff (thus the common name), and clasp the stem. Because of the short bristly hairs, stems are thick and rough.

Fruit and Seed

A dry seed known as fruit has a tuft of white or light brown hairs to help it fly away in the wind. The seed is 2 to 212 millimeters long, softly angled, occasionally hairy, and has faint lines or ridges along the length of it as it ripens from pale tan to brown. Before the seed matures, insects consume a large portion of it.

Companion Plants

Asters, Indian grass, Joe Pye plant, and ox-eye sunflower make excellent stiff goldenrod companions. This is unquestionably a plant you should take into consideration while planning a pollinator garden.

Association with Humans

There is goldenrod for every event, no matter your preferences or circumstances. Sadly, stiff goldenrods are frequently held responsible for the dreadful hay fever. Simply said, this is untrue. Their pollen is quite big and sticky, which helps it attach to the bodies of incoming insects. As a result, goldenrod pollen is never able to enter your sinuses or become airborne.

The wind-pollinated ragweeds, which release a prodigious amount of light pollen into the air, are the real culprits behind hay fever. The significance of goldenrods to the landscape cannot be overstated. They will continue providing ecosystem services until the fall, when most plant life is finished.

Other Goldenrods

Discover the differences among many these goldenrods.

• Grass Leaved Goldenrod
• Early Goldenrod
• Squarrose Goldenrod
• Rough-stemmed Goldenrod
• Blue Stemmed Goldenrod
• Ohio Goldenrod
• Zigzag Goldenrod

They each have their own uniqueness.