By Sam Hoadley, Manager of Horticultural Research
Goldenrods (Solidago species) are not only beautiful plants with their bright yellow blooms, but they are also critical for supporting biodiversity. Mt. Cuba Center’s recent Solidago trial shed some well-deserved light on these plants, many of which have incredible horticultural and ecological value in gardens of the Mid-Atlantic region. Now, take a journey through Mt. Cuba’s gardens and natural lands to see how we have incorporated goldenrods into our garden designs, along with insights from the trial. Download a map to follow along and find these goldenrods on your next visit to Mt. Cuba.
Starting right from the guest parking lot, you’ll find Golden Fleece autumn goldenrod (Solidago sphacelata ‘Golden Fleece’), a unique, compact form of the species. Originally found in North Carolina, this cultivar has remained popular in the garden world since its introduction in the late 1980s. Thanks to its diminutive size and tidy habit, it can fit into the smallest of home gardens and could even be considered for container plantings. You’ll see more Golden Fleece autumn goldenrod in the formal South Garden near the Copeland House.
The stunning top-performing Fireworks wrinkle-leaf goldenrod (Solidago rugosa ‘Fireworks’) can be seen just a stone’s throw away in the Round Garden, punctuating the perennial beds surrounding the circular fountain. In fall, the explosive flower power of this coastal North Carolina selection offers the perfect complement to other late-season perennials like the bright pink Alma Potschke New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae ‘Alma Potschke’) and Jeana garden phlox (Phlox paniculata ‘Jeana’).
Leaving the formal gardens behind and entering Mt. Cuba’s naturalistic gardens, the need for consistency and order gives way to a stylized naturalism. This amplified version of nature does not demand the same sense of order that cultivars like Golden Fleece autumn goldenrod provide, and wild-type plants are often preferred. Two goldenrod species are landscape staples in Mt. Cuba’s wooded naturalistic gardens, and for good reason. The bright golden flowers of blue-stemmed goldenrod (Solidago caesia) and broad-leaf goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis) illuminate shaded corners in fall and attract scores of insect visitors.
The arching, wiry stems of blue-stemmed goldenrod mingle gently with other fall-blooming perennials like white wood aster (Eurybia divaricata). The rounded, serrated leaves of broad-leaf goldenrod, sometimes referred to as zigzag goldenrod, are the perfect textural complement to a myriad of Carex (sedges) and ferns. Both shade-loving goldenrods are locally native and were included in the Solidago trial. Unfortunately, these species suffered in the evaluation due to the excess sunlight they experienced in the trial location. When given some protection from the harsh afternoon sun, they thrive and are adaptable to a variety of soils as long as conditions are not overly wet.
There are few places at Mt. Cuba that feature goldenrods in their full autumnal splendor better than the meadow garden. While many goldenrod species bloom in September and October, the meadow display starts in late July with early goldenrod (Solidago juncea). This species is frequently found in dry fields and roadsides of the Mid-Atlantic region. Thanks to its lopsided, almost pendulous inflorescences, early goldenrod can be readily recognized from a distance. While the soils of the Trial Garden were ultimately too moist and rich for early goldenrod in the evaluation, this species thrives in the cultivated communities and rocky soils of the meadow garden, where it mixes beautifully with native warm-season grasses like little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium).
In September and October, a second symphony of goldenrods takes center stage in the southern reaches of the meadow garden. Both showy goldenrod (Solidago speciosa) and southeastern bold goldenrod (Solidago rigida subsp. glabrata) bloom in concert, with upright, airy panicles and open, flat-topped inflorescences, respectively. Their floral textures alone create an incredible ornamental combination that is further elevated by companion plants like Mohr’s rosinweed (Silphium mohrii) and royal catchfly (Silene regia) blooming nearby. Although southeastern bold goldenrod was a top performer in the Solidago trial, the habit of this species is much more upright and rigid in the leaner soils of the meadow garden. These same conditions also elevate the performance of showy goldenrod, which, as the common name suggests, puts on one of the most ornamental floral displays of any goldenrod. However, this species struggled to stay upright in the evaluation.
Goldenrods take center stage at Mt. Cuba in late summer and fall. Plan your visit to see these inspirational plantings and discover the beauty and value this iconic genus can bring to your home landscape. Download this map to help you find the goldenrods in the garden and follow them through the season.