Goldenrod, scientifically named Solidago, gets its common name from the golden flower clusters atop stiff stems that are like rods. located within the aster family, they join that group in their late-flowering glory which is cresting right about now. Seeing goldenrod has always brought a catch to my breath, as it used to indicate the start of school right around the corner – a dismal bit of foreboding to a grader schooler with social anxiety. That has changed only slightly over the years, childhood trauma being near impossible to entirely eradicate, so I view its prettiness with a weary eye.
In the wild, goldenrod is often found blooming beside purple asters, creating a visual feast that sees the end of the season out in a sort of blazing glory. Fall carries its own floral enchantments for those who bother to look.
I’ve occasionally given thought to planting a stand of goldenrod in the garden but its late blooming time would go to waste. One final word of warning: do not be fooled into thinking this is one of your allergy-inducing plants: the pollen is not usually airborne – and most people are affected by the more visually-unobtrusive ragweed that appears at this time of the year, the goldenrod in its striking coloration just gets all the blame.
