Hey there, fellow garden enthusiasts! I’ve been fascinated by goldenrod for years, and today I’m gonna share everything you need to know about identifying and growing these amazing little seeds. Whether you’re a foraging newbie or an experienced gardener, this guide will help you spot, collect, and grow your own goldenrod.
The Basics: Identifying Goldenrod Seeds
Let me tell you these seeds are pretty tiny! Here’s what you should look for
- Size: About 1-2mm long (think poppy seed sized)
- Shape: Oblong or cigar-shaped, slightly flattened
- Color: Light brown or tan when mature
- Special feature: White fluffy tuft (called pappus) at one end
- Location: Found in dried flower heads during fall
When and Where to Find Goldenrod Seeds
The best time to hunt for these little guys is:
- Peak season: October through November
- Location: Fields, meadows, roadsides
- Plant height: Usually 3-7 feet tall
- Flower status: Look for completely dried, brown flower heads
Pro tip I’ve found the easiest way to check if seeds are ready is to gently shake the flower head over your hand. If they’re mature they’ll fall right out!
Harvesting Tips
Here’s my tried-and-true method for collecting goldenrod seeds:
- Wait until flowers are completely dry and brown
- Hold a paper bag or container under the flower head
- Gently rub the flowers between your fingers
- Seeds will fall into your container
- Store in paper envelopes in a cool, dry place
Growing Your Own Goldenrod
Wanna start your own patch? Here’s what works for me
Planting Instructions:
- Timing: Spring or fall planting works best
- Soil prep: Well-draining soil in full sun
- Planting depth: Surface sowing – these seeds need light!
- Spacing: About 8-12 inches apart
- Water: Keep soil moist but not waterlogged
Pro Growing Tips:
- For better germination, pop seeds in the fridge for 4-6 weeks before planting
- Don’t cover seeds with soil – just press them gently into the surface
- Expect blooms in the second year
Watch Out for Look-alikes!
Here’s something super important – there are some nasty look-alikes out there. The main ones to watch for are:
- Ragwort
- Groundsel
- Staggerweed
- Liferoot
These belong to the Senecio family and can be toxic. The easiest way to tell them apart? Crush a leaf – goldenrod has a distinct anise/licorice smell.
Why Should You Care About Goldenrod Seeds?
These tiny seeds are pretty amazing:
Benefits for Your Garden:
- Attracts pollinators like crazy
- Drought resistant once established
- Comes back year after year
- Great for fall color
- Deer resistant (bonus!)
Environmental Benefits:
- Food source for birds and small mammals
- Supports local biodiversity
- Helps with erosion control
- Native plant that supports local ecosystems
Storing Your Seeds
If you’re collecting seeds for later, here’s what I do:
Short-term Storage:
- Use paper envelopes or bags
- Keep in a cool, dry spot
- Label with date and location collected
Long-term Storage:
- Place in airtight containers
- Store in refrigerator
- Can last several years when stored properly
Common Questions I Get About Goldenrod Seeds
Q: Are goldenrod seeds hard to grow?
A: Nah, they’re pretty easy! Just remember they need light to germinate.
Q: How long until they flower?
A: Usually takes till the second year to see blooms.
Q: Will they take over my garden?
A: They can spread, but they’re not typically aggressive. Just keep an eye on them!
Final Thoughts
Goldenrod seeds might be tiny, but they pack a powerful punch in terms of garden value and ecological benefits. I’ve been growing them for years, and they never fail to impress me with their resilience and beauty.
Remember, patience is key when growing from seed – but trust me, it’s worth the wait! If you’re thinking about adding goldenrod to your garden, why not give it a try? These hardy plants will reward you with gorgeous fall blooms and happy pollinators year after year.
Got any questions about growing goldenrod? Drop ’em in the comments below – I’d love to help you get started on your goldenrod journey!
Happy gardening, everyone!
Solidago speciosa (Showy Goldenrod)
| Also known as: | |
|---|---|
| Genus: | Solidago |
| Family: | Asteraceae (Aster) |
| Life cycle: | perennial |
| Origin: | native |
| Habitat: | sun; dry, sandy soil; fields, prairies, savannas, railroads, edges of woods |
| Bloom season: | July – October |
| Plant height: | 1 to 5 feet |
| Wetland Indicator Status: | none |
| MN county distribution (click map to enlarge): | |
| National distribution (click map to enlarge): |
Pick an for a larger view. See the glossary for icon descriptions.
Erect branching cluster up to 12 inches long at the top of the stem,with small auxiliary clusters arising from upper leaf axils. Flowers are yellow, about ¼ inch across with 4 to 10 ray flowers (petals). The cluster tends to be densely packed, have short branches that are erect to ascending or curving upward, and is conical or cylindrical in outline.
Leaves are basal and alternate, the basal and lower stem leaves sometimes withered away by flowering time. Basal leaves are lance-elliptic to somewhat spoon-shaped, pointed at the tip, tapering to narrowly winged stalk, up to 12 inches long including the stem, to 3 inches wide, and may be shallowly or coarsely toothed or toothless. Stem leaves become smaller, more lance-elliptic, toothless, and stalkless as they ascend the stem, the mid and upper leaves up to about 3½ inches long and 1 inch wide.
Small leaves develop in the leaf axils especially on the upper stem. Surfaces are smooth to slightly rough textured. Stems are unbranched, single or multiple from the base, hairless except in the flower clusters, may be green or reddish. Plants often form large clumps and may form colonies.
Fruit is a dry seed with a tuft of light brown hair to carry it off in the wind.
Seeds are about 2 mm long, about .75 mm wide, hairless and very pale with numerous darker brown, shallow grooves.
The flower clusters of many goldenrods tend to droop or be pyramidal in outline, but Showy Goldenrod is more cylindric and stays erect, the short branches ascending or curving upward. While Bog Goldenrod (Solidago uliginosa) also has erect clusters and toothless stem leaves, its stem leaves are much longer (to 9 inches) and as its common name suggests it is a wetland species, where Showy Goldenrod prefers drier, sandy soil. Showy Goldenrod does very well in a sunny garden and, like most Goldenrods, is a pollinator magnet.
Breaking news: There were 3 varieties of S. speciosa, which have recently been elevated to species level. At the time of this writing the DNR had not split them out, but we expect that will happen sometime in the future, at which time we will revisit this species account and make changes accordingly. The 3 vars/species are:
- var. speciosa (S. speciosa) has basal leaves up to 2 inches wide that persist through flowering and are often coarsely toothed, and mid-stem leaves up to 1 inch wide that are not stiff or rough-textured or crowded on the stem;
- var. rigidiuscula (S. rigidiuscula) has basal leaves only up to ¾ inch wide that may not persist to flowering time and are toothless or shallowly toothed, and mid-stem leaves rarely as much as 2/3 inch wide that are stiff, slightly rough-textured, and often crowded on the stem. Note that crowded (or not) may be subjective.
- var. jejunifolia (S. jejunifolia) has fewer and narrower leaves, but further details are currently lacking.