Goldenrod, a Fall Favorite

One of the last flowers of fall, the goldenrod, adds color to landscapes across North America.

You often find these and asters growing together in natural settings. These beautiful native plants make a nice combination in nature and the landscape.

An old legend speaks to this beautiful combination. It says two young friends, one with blonde hair and one with blue eyes were asked what they wanted to do when they grew up. The blonde hair girl wanted to make people happy and the other wanted to be with her friend. An old lady gave them magic cake and made their dreams come true by turning them into asters and goldenrod flowers.

Besides their beauty, these native plants provide food for butterflies, birds and beneficial insects, increasing their value in the garden.

Try adding a few of the tamer goldenrod varieties in your perennial or natural gardens.

A bit more information: Fireworks goldenrod grows 3 to 4 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide and the flowers explode like fireworks above the leaves. Golden Thumb is a shorter goldenrod variety. Its yellow flowers top one-foot plants.

Grow these and most other goldenrods in well-drained soil and full sun. Avoid over fertilization and harvest a few flowers to enjoy fresh or dried indoors.