Wand Goldenrod is an herbaceous perennial wildflower. Goldenrod easily grows in average, medium to wet, well-drained soils in full sun and is native to sandy pine barrens and wet coastal plain areas from New Jersey to Texas. It can be grown from seed and will self-seed in the garden. It is a rhizomatous, spreading plant and may need some control through annual cutbacks. It can be found in the Piedmont and coastal areas of NC. Plant Wand Goldenrod in moist sites in well-drained soils in full sun. It tolerates deer and clay soil and attracts bees, butterflies and other pollinators. Use in bogs, along streams and ponds or in rain gardens. Goldenrod was thought to cause hay fever. However, the true culprit responsible for the wind-blown pollen that causes the allergic reaction is ragweed. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems No serious insect or disease problems. Rust, powdery mildew, and leaf spot can occur. Plants can be aggressive in optimum growing conditions. More information on Solidago .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Wet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Mounding
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Basal leaves are lance-shaped to 8” long and stem leaves are small, erect, and are pressed upward against the stem, giving a wand-like appearance.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Orange
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Spike
Flower shape
Radial
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Blooms August through October with narrow, erect, plume-like clusters (to 10 inches long) of yellow, daisy-like flowers that seem to climb up the length of stems rising to 3 to 6 feet tall.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Achene
Stem color
Green
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
South Central and Eastern USA
Distribution
AL , DE , FL , GA , LA , MD , MS , NC , NJ , SC , TX , VA
Wildlife value
This plant supports Wavy-lined Emerald (Synchlora aerata) larvae. Attract butterflies and other pollinators.