Dave Reed of Reed’s Seeds was advising me on the products I would need to complete a new pollinator plot in the field. A Conservation Stewardship Program grant from the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) would provide up to $300 for a pollinator seed mix. The good folks at NRCS provided a list of species that would be suitable for planting in our area, 35 species in total. Unfortunately, some of those seeds were very expensive, pushing the cost to plant one acre over $1,000.

Knowing that some species were difficult to establish, especially when I was not around continually to care for them, I asked Dave for help in retaining a good mix of seeds while lowering the cost. We needed at least three species each that bloomed early, mid and late season. Maybe we could manage without the Ohio spiderwort and the Common sneezeweed, and the field already hosted a lot of Joe-Pye weed and milkweed plants. Dave strongly advised going with asters and cornflowers, and insisted that I had to have Showy goldenrod. “Goldenrod?”, I sputtered, “The field is loaded with the darned stuff already!”

A gentle older man, Dave said that the field probably contained Canada and Tall goldenrods. He quietly coached me to consider that some plant species were just so important to local pollinators like honey bees that I should swallow the cost to achieve the best results in the new field. Goldenrods like the showy variety produce heavy yellow pollens that are a critical food source for some of the local bees, plus migrating Monarch butterflies depend upon goldenrod pollen on their long journey to Mexico. Finally, the showy goldenrod is just plain beautiful in bloom.

Dave won the debate, and I learned a valuable lesson about the cost/benefit ratio for goldenrod. The larger varieties already established in the field grew so fast that they often overwhelmed the young spruce, fir and pine saplings that I planted each spring. When the first snows and heavy winds came in November, knocking the goldenrods to the ground, the little conifers were sometimes squashed in the process.  But the one-acre pollinator plot was intended to serve a valuable population of creatures in our area, so the conifers would just have to manage elsewhere.

Goldenrods are impressive plants and remarkably adaptable, explaining their prevalence across much of North America. With over 100 species in the genus Solidago, there is a variety suited to almost any environment. Species like Canada goldenrod do well in full sun and well-drained soil, often dominating old fields like mine. Blue-stemmed goldenrod and Zigzag goldenrod prefer the softer light and moist soil of forest floors.

In coastal areas you are likely to find Seaside goldenrod, a salt-tolerant variety, growing among sandy dunes and rocks where few other flowering plants can survive. Along marshes and stream edges you will find varieties of goldenrod that are adapted to the damp soils and higher humidity, the plants providing valuable food and shelter for a wide variety of creatures.

While they all share that iconic “rod of gold” appearance, subtle differences help distinguish among the varieties. Canada goldenrod reaches five feet or more in height and has flower clusters shaped like pyramids. It is aggressively rhizomatous, meaning it spreads quickly via underground roots. The Showy goldenrod yields dense, upright spikes of brilliant yellow that look more like a wand than a plume. Fireworks goldenrod, a popular garden variety, earns its name from its arching flower stems that resemble a bursting firework.

Goldenrod seeds are small, dry fruits called achenes. Each seed is attached to a tiny tuft of white hairs that acts like a parachute, allowing the wind to carry it short distances to new locations. As a late blooming plant that drops seeds well into the autumn, most goldenrod species have evolved to “wait out” the winter. Their seeds often require cold stratification, a period of cold, moist conditions that mimics winter, to break their dormancy. Sunlight is required to trigger germination. Once established, goldenrods are perennials. Dense colonies of the plants grow thick matts of roots that assist with soil stabilization.

Goldenrods have been given a bad rap for years so it is worth addressing some confusion. This deals with the relationship between goldenrod and “hay fever.” Scientists report that goldenrod is almost never the cause of seasonal allergies. The problem is that goldenrod blooms at the same time as ragweed. While goldenrod is tall, bright, and showy, ragweed has small, green, inconspicuous flowers that most people don’t even notice.

As noted earlier, goldenrod pollen tends to be heavy, sticky material that evolved to adhere to insects and other pollinators. It does not float long distances on the wind; you would practically have to stick your nose into the flower to inhale it. In contrast, ragweed is wind-pollinated, releasing billions of microscopic pollen grains into the air, which travel for miles and easily enter human respiratory systems where they can trigger our seasonal agonies.

Ecologists refer to goldenrod as a keystone species, playing a vital role in providing a “last feast” for insects before winter sets in. More than three dozen native bee species are considered specialists that only collect pollen from goldenrods to feed their young. More than 100 species of Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies) use goldenrod as a host plant for their caterpillars. In addition, the plant attracts predatory wasps and beetles that help control garden pests like aphids and Japanese beetles.

Beyond its beauty in bloom, the goldenrod has a few other roles. You may have noticed large swellings on the stems of goldenrods. These are called ball galls, triggered when the goldenrod gall fly lays eggs on the goldenrod buds. When they hatch, the fly larvae burrow into the plant stem and in response, the goldenrod forms a ball of cells around the larvae. These galls are a winter food source for Downy Woodpeckers, who peck them open to find the larva.

Indigenous peoples were well versed in the use of wild plants for medicinal purposes, and they passed on their knowledge to early European settlers. Preparations from the goldenrod were used to treat kidney stones and respiratory issues. There is an online reference to Thomas Edison, credited with lighting our world in the early 1900s, who experimented with growing specialized goldenrod plants in hopes of producing domestic rubber. Apparently, he cross-bred a variety to grow 12 feet tall, but the project never succeeded.  Thank goodness; I can’t imagine our field overgrown with 12-foot goldenrod!

Harpswell has a wide variety of habitats among our islands and peninsulas, offering homes to multiple varieties of goldenrod. Since the steep, rocky slopes of the islands differ significantly from the landscape of Mitchell Field you would expect the goldenrod species to be quite different as you move around town.

Mitchell Field offers a 120-acre stretch with wide open meadows, sandy beaches and small forested patches. The soil is a mix of sandy coastal stretches and disturbed “old field” habitats, so you might observe several species of goldenrod. Gray goldenrod is a short, gray-colored plant that can handle dry, sandy soil. In the central field, tall stands of Canada goldenrod thrive in the full sun and offer shelter to numerous birds and insects. Near the shoreline, where the soil contains a good deal of salt, you are more likely to find the Seaside goldenrod where other varieties would struggle to survive.

When researching my articles each month I am often surprised at the number of fan clubs out there for species that might be considered out of the mainstream.  The best one to date was certainly the Opossum Society of the United States – their annual meetings must be rip-snorting affairs! While I did not find goldenrod fan clubs, there are a couple groups worth a look due to their more serious intent. The Goldenrod Foundation in Plymouth, MA, is focused on coastal conservation and they celebrate Seaside goldenrod as their flagship species. The Mt. Cuba Center in Hockessin, Delaware, has just completed a three-year study of goldenrod species to identify those best suited to home gardens, with the hope of providing more habitat for threatened pollinators like honey bees.

If you happen to be a real fan of these lovely golden plants you might enjoy a sojourn down the coast to York Beach where you will find an iconic shop called The Goldenrod. Dating back to 1896, this beloved restaurant, ice cream, candy and gift shop has legions of fans among Mainers and repeat visitors to our state. Their fame originated with Goldenrod Kisses, a sweet salt water taffy that the founders crafted in the front window of the shop, cleverly drawing hungry tourists through the door to make a purchase.

In closing, it is worth considering the words of the renowned naturalist and founder of our National Parks system, John Muir: “The fragrance, color and form of the whole spiritual expression of goldenrod are hopeful and strength-giving beyond any others I know. A single spike is sufficient to heal unbelief and melancholy.”

If you like Ed Robinson’s writing, check out his two Nature Notes books! Click here for more information.