Canada Goldenrod
Solidago altissima
Canada Goldenrod is a perennial herbaceous plant featuring erect, slender stems clothed in alternate, lance-shaped leaves with toothed margins. The plant is currently in the bud stage, showing dense clusters of tightly closed green flower buds arranged in large, pyramidal, plume-like panicles at the top of the stems.
- Light
- Full sun, requiring at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day.
- Water
- Low to moderate watering needs. Highly drought-tolerant once established. Water deeply during prolonged dry spells, ensuring the soil does not become waterlogged to prevent root rot.
- Growth
- Herbaceous perennial forming dense clumps via spreading rhizomes. Reaches a mature height of 2 to 6 feet with a spread of 2 to 3 feet, exhibiting a moderate to fast growth rate.
Care instructions
Provide full sun and well-draining soil. Water moderately during establishment, allowing soil to dry out between waterings. Minimal fertilization is required as excessive nutrients can cause weak, leggy stems. Cut back stems to the ground in late winter or early spring to encourage vigorous new growth.
Growing details
Sunlight
Full sun, requiring at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day.
Watering
Low to moderate watering needs. Highly drought-tolerant once established. Water deeply during prolonged dry spells, ensuring the soil does not become waterlogged to prevent root rot.
Soil
Adaptable to a wide range of well-draining soils including loam, clay, or sandy substrates, with a preferred pH range of 6.0 to 7.0.
Hardiness zone
USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 9.
Growth habit
Herbaceous perennial forming dense clumps via spreading rhizomes. Reaches a mature height of 2 to 6 feet with a spread of 2 to 3 feet, exhibiting a moderate to fast growth rate.
Bloom season
Blooms from late summer to autumn, producing masses of small, bright yellow flower heads clustered in showy plumes.
Propagation
Propagated easily by division of established clumps in spring or autumn, or by collecting and sowing seeds directly outdoors in autumn.
Common pests & issues
Generally resilient against major pests and diseases. Occasionally susceptible to powdery mildew or rust in humid conditions with poor air circulation; manage by spacing plants properly and avoiding overhead watering.
Similar species
Other goldenrod species such as Giant Goldenrod (Solidago gigantea), which can be distinguished by its smooth, hairless stems often tinged with a bluish-purple waxy bloom.