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
Tip: Shaking the flower head gently over your hand is the best way for me to tell if the seeds are ready. 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!
Very important: there are some bad lookalikes 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.
Will they take over my garden? A: They might spread, but they’re not usually mean. Just keep an eye on them!.
Final Thoughts
Even though goldenrod seeds are small, they are very useful in the garden and are good for the environment. After years of growing them, they still amaze me with how strong and pretty they are.
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 is usually very close together, has short branches that stand straight up or curve upward, and has a cone or cylinder shape.
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. As you go up the stem, the leaves get smaller, more lance-shaped, toothless, and stalkless. The middle and upper leaves can be up to 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 that helps the wind carry it away.
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 leaves at the base that are up to 2 inches wide, stay on the plant until it flowers, and are often coarsely toothed. It also has leaves in the middle of the stem that are up to 1 inch wide and are not stiff, rough, or crowded on the stem.
- var. rigidiuscula (S. rigidiuscula) has very small leaves at the base that may not make it to flowering time and are toothless or only slightly toothed. The leaves in the middle of the stem are stiff, slightly rough, and often crowded together. Note that crowded (or not) may be subjective.
- var. jejunifolia (S. jejunifolia) has fewer and narrower leaves, but we don’t know much else about them yet.