Early Goldenrod (Solidago juncea)

from $3.50

Early Goldenrod is the earliest blooming goldenrod. Its flowers, like other goldenrods, attract a large variety of native bees, butterflies, and moths (illinoiswildflower.info).  It is also the host plant to 135 species of butterflies and moths in our area (nwf.org) as well as the host to an incredible 43 specialist bees (Holm, 2017) (Johnson and Colla, 2023). Early Goldenrod is a very vigorous spreader, so take care where you put it, a small garden is probably not the best choice. Goldenrods provide so many ecosystem services even when most other plants are shutting down for the season. Just something to keep in mind, goldenrods do not cause hay fever! Their pollen is too heavy, it is the wind-pollinated (but not as visually obvious) ragweed that causes it. 

Photo credit: Kevin Kenny

Size:

Early Goldenrod is the earliest blooming goldenrod. Its flowers, like other goldenrods, attract a large variety of native bees, butterflies, and moths (illinoiswildflower.info).  It is also the host plant to 135 species of butterflies and moths in our area (nwf.org) as well as the host to an incredible 43 specialist bees (Holm, 2017) (Johnson and Colla, 2023). Early Goldenrod is a very vigorous spreader, so take care where you put it, a small garden is probably not the best choice. Goldenrods provide so many ecosystem services even when most other plants are shutting down for the season. Just something to keep in mind, goldenrods do not cause hay fever! Their pollen is too heavy, it is the wind-pollinated (but not as visually obvious) ragweed that causes it. 

Photo credit: Kevin Kenny

Life Cycle: Perennial

Sun Exposure: Full-Partial shade

Soil Moisture: Medium – Dry

Height: 1.5-3 feet

Plant Spacing: 1-3 feet

Bloom Time: July-September

Bloom Color: Yellow

Advantages: Caterpillar Favorite, Pollinator Favorite, Bird Favorite, Deer Resistant

Host Plant: 135 species of butterflies and moths use this as a caterpillar host plant in our area (nwf.org)

Specialist Bee: Andrena aliciae, A. apacheorum, A. asteris, A. braccata, A. canadensis, A. Chromotricha, A. hirticincta, A. nubecula, A. placata, A. simplex, Perdita octomaculata, P. swenki, Pseudopanurgis aestivalis, P. andrenoides, P. compositarum, P. labrosiformis, P. solidaginis, Melissodes agilis, M. boltoniae, M. coloradensis, M. coreopsis, M. dentiventris, M. druriellus, M. fumosus, M. illatus, M. menuachus, M. microstictus, M. niveus, M. trinodis, M. wheeleri, Colletes americanus, C. compactus, C. rufocinctus, C. simulans, C. solidaginis, C. speculiferus, Dieunomia heteropoda, Dianthidium simile, Dufourea marginata, Megachile inimical, M. parallela, M. xylocopoides, and Ashmeadiella bucconis  (Holm, 2017) (Johnson and Colla, 2023)

Resource: Holm, Heather. Bees: An Identification and Native Plant Forage Guide. Pollination Press LLC, 2017

Resource: Johnson, Lorraine, and Sheila Colla. A Northern Gardener’s Guide to Native Plants and Pollinators: Creating Habitat in the Northeast, Great Lakes, and Upper Midwest. Island Press, 2023

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