Missouri Goldenrod (Solidago missouriensis)
Missouri Goldenrod, like most Goldenrods, has very high value to pollinators, especially the specialists. The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract a wide variety of insects, especially native bees (illinoiswildflower.info). It is also the host plant to 135 species of butterflies and moths in our area (nwf.org) as well as a likely host to an incredible 43 specialist bees (Johnson and Colla, 2023). It is presumed extirpated (legally 'threatened' if rediscovered) in Michigan, so while you may not be preserving the plant that was once here, you are creating habitat for all of the species that may need it for survival (mnfi.anr.msu.edu).
Goldenrods, in general, provide so many ecosystem services, especially 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: Joshua Mayer
Missouri Goldenrod, like most Goldenrods, has very high value to pollinators, especially the specialists. The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract a wide variety of insects, especially native bees (illinoiswildflower.info). It is also the host plant to 135 species of butterflies and moths in our area (nwf.org) as well as a likely host to an incredible 43 specialist bees (Johnson and Colla, 2023). It is presumed extirpated (legally 'threatened' if rediscovered) in Michigan, so while you may not be preserving the plant that was once here, you are creating habitat for all of the species that may need it for survival (mnfi.anr.msu.edu).
Goldenrods, in general, provide so many ecosystem services, especially 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: Joshua Mayer
Missouri Goldenrod, like most Goldenrods, has very high value to pollinators, especially the specialists. The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract a wide variety of insects, especially native bees (illinoiswildflower.info). It is also the host plant to 135 species of butterflies and moths in our area (nwf.org) as well as a likely host to an incredible 43 specialist bees (Johnson and Colla, 2023). It is presumed extirpated (legally 'threatened' if rediscovered) in Michigan, so while you may not be preserving the plant that was once here, you are creating habitat for all of the species that may need it for survival (mnfi.anr.msu.edu).
Goldenrods, in general, provide so many ecosystem services, especially 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: Joshua Mayer
Life Cycle: Perennial
Sun Exposure: Full – Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Medium/dry – Dry
Height: 1.5-3 feet
Plant Spacing: 2-3 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)
Species of Concern: State Status: Presumed extirpated (legally 'threatened' if rediscovered), State Rank: Presumed extirpated (mnfi.anr.msu.edu)
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 (Johnson and Colla, 2023)
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
