Bluestem Goldenrod
Solidago caesia
Blue-gray arching stems lined with gold from September through October. The graceful goldenrod that bridges shade and sun.
Typically 1 pint–1 gal · $9–$30 · final price at pickup
- Thu, Aug 138 AM – 4 PM
- Fri, Aug 148 AM – 4 PM
- Sat, Aug 158 AM – 2 PM
The graceful arching form, blue-gray stems, and shade tolerance make this the most versatile goldenrod for mixed borders and woodland edges.
Bluestem Goldenrod takes its common name from the blue-gray bloom that coats the slender arching stems, a subtle, waxy coating that gives the plant a distinctive cool tone before the yellow flowers arrive. The flowers appear as small axillary clusters along the full length of the arching stems from September through October, giving the plant a fountain-like form covered in gold. It bridges the gap between woodland and sun garden, tolerating more shade than most goldenrods while also performing well in brighter conditions. The arching stems and scattered axillary flowers give Bluestem Goldenrod a more graceful, less assertive presence than the large-plumed species. It's well-suited to the edge of a shade garden, the transition zone between sun and shade, or planted in groups at the front of a shrub border. The glaucous blue stems are attractive even out of bloom, and the plant spreads at a reasonable rate without becoming invasive. Native bees and monarchs find it reliably in fall.
A nursery-grown plant, ready for the ground.
Healthy, container-grown bluestem goldenrod propagated on-site at Hill House from regional genetics. Includes a one-page care card. We make every effort to supply plants as listed; occasionally we substitute a similar species of equal value.
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Average
- Mature size
- 1.5–3 ft · 18–24 in wide
- Bloom time
- Fall
- USDA zones
- 4–8
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Native range
- Eastern North America from Maine south to Florida; moist, rich to average deciduous woodland edges
Care notes for bluestem goldenrod.
Full to part shade, average to dry-mesic well-drained soil. More shade tolerant than most goldenrods. Cut back in early spring. Spreads moderately by rhizome. divide every three to four years in spring. Self-seeds modestly. Minimal maintenance required. Drought tolerant once established.
Pairs well with these.
Same light, same soil, same wildlife. Janet's picks to plant alongside bluestem goldenrod.
Or skip the guesswork.
Curated packages bundle complementary species for an instant habitat. One reservation, one pickup day, a printed layout map.
Short on Space Package
For gardeners who have an abundance of passion but are short on space, this package features tidy, upright, clump-forming natives that behave and function well in small spaces.
Shade Bed Package
Ferns, sedges, and woodland natives that thrive under existing trees.
Birder’s Paradise Package
For the avid bird watchers and budding ornithologists in our community, the Birder’s Paradise Package consists of species that Hill House Nursery staff and longtime native plant advocates such as Doug Tallamy consider ‘premier bird garden plants’.