Showy Goldenrod
Solidago speciosa
Dense, upright gold plumes that hold their form in wind and rain. Spreads slowly and stays in its lane, unlike common goldenrod.
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 most refined, border-appropriate goldenrod we carry. upright and well-behaved while still delivering full fall pollinator value and excellent cut flowers.
Showy goldenrod earns its name: the erect, upright flower plumes are denser and more stiffly upright than most other goldenrods, giving it a refined, architectural presence in the fall garden. The gold is rich and saturated, and it holds its form well in wind and rain rather than flopping the way more aggressive species tend to. In full sun on a September afternoon, a grouping of showy goldenrod is one of the finest things you can grow. Like all goldenrods, it's a major late-season nectar and pollen source for monarchs, bees, and dozens of other insects. The seeds feed goldfinches and sparrows through winter. And unlike common goldenrod, showy goldenrod spreads slowly and stays in its lane rather than running aggressively.
A nursery-grown plant, ready for the ground.
Healthy, container-grown showy 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
- 2–4 ft · 18–24 in wide
- Bloom time
- Late summer through fall
- Bloom color
- Yellow
- USDA zones
- 3–8
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Native range
- Eastern and Central North America
Care notes for showy goldenrod.
Full sun to part shade in dry to average, well-drained soil. More clumping and less aggressive than common goldenrod. stays tidy in borders. Cut back to the ground in late fall or early spring. Divide every 3–5 years to maintain vigor. Excellent cut flower. No fertilizing needed in average soil.
Pairs well with these.
Same light, same soil, same wildlife. Janet's picks to plant alongside showy 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’.