Stiff Goldenrod

A tall, leafless plant with a stiff stem and bright yellow flowers. Goldenrod can be found in commerce and industry, gardens, and some wild areas.S . rigida was common where they put the dog park in Burnsville around Alimagnet Lake, and there were some plants scattered in other areas in Apple Valley before development. A tall upright Goldenrod that blooms later in the year, loved by insects and does not spread rampantly by way of rhizomes like other species. I like the tall upright habit when used in beds and all the insects it attracts. It is also not an aggressive self-seeder.Stiff Goldenrod has larger, flatter flower clusters than most Goldenrods. The leaves turn nice shades of red in the fall. For a colorful fall show, plant Stiff Goldenrod with other fall bloomers such as Button Blazing Star, Little Bluestem, New England Aster and Sweet Black-eyed Susan. As for common names, you may hear it referred to as Rigid Goldenrod or Prairie Goldenrod. Another botanical name is Solidago rigida.

Plant

Whatever your preference or situation may be, there is a goldenrod to suit all occasions. Sadly, goldenrods often get blamed for causing the dreaded hayfever. This is simply not true. Their pollen is quite large and sticky to better adhere to the body of visiting insects. Because of this, goldenrod pollen cannot become airborne and can never make its way into your sinuses. The true cause of hayfever is the wind pollinated ragweeds, which broadcast copious amounts of lightweight pollen into the air. We cannot stress enough how important goldenrods are on the landscape. Including them on your property will provide ecosystem services well into the fall when most other plant life is shutting down. Each species is different, so be sure to check the GERMINATION CODE listed on the website, in the catalog, or on your seed packet. Then, follow the GERMINATION INSTRUCTIONS prior to planting.

Some species don't need any pre-treatment to germinate, but some species have dormancy mechanisms that must be broken before the seed will germinate. Some dormancy can be broken in a few minutes, but some species take months or even years.We dig plants when they are dormant from our outdoor beds and ship them April-May and October. Some species go dormant in the summer and we can ship them July/August. We are among the few still employing this production method, which is labor intensive but plant-friendly. They arrive to you dormant, with little to no top-growth (bare-root), packed in peat moss. They should be planted as soon as possible. Unlike greenhouse-grown plants, bare-root plants can be planted during cold weather or anytime the soil is not frozen. A root photo is included with each species to illustrate the optimal depth and orientation. Planting instructions/care are also included with each order. (Source: www.prairiemoon.com)