Solidago nemoralis is a compact goldenrod with a graceful, arching habit and fine textured gray green foliage. Its airy golden yellow flower sprays bloom in late summer and fall, offering a vital nectar source for pollinators while maintaining a subtle form.
Height & Spread: 12 - 24 in x 12 - 18 in
Bloom Time: August to October
Light Requirements: Full sun to part sun
Soil Preference: Dry, sandy, or gravelly soils with excellent drainage
Watering Needs: Low; drought tolerant and suitable for xeric sites
Deer Resistance: Generally avoided by deer due to aromatic foliage
Native Status
This species is native to much of eastern and central North America, especially common in open fields, prairies, and disturbed habitats.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Butterflies
- Supports fall flying butterflies including Monarchs and Painted Ladies as they migrate southward.
Bees
- Provides late season nectar and pollen for native sweat bees, bumblebees, and mining bees.
Hummingbirds
- Occasionally visited by hummingbirds seeking small insects around the inflorescence.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations
- Space plants 12 - 18 in apart to mimic natural clumping and allow for air circulation.
Landscape Placement
- Best suited for dry meadows, prairie restorations, native pollinator gardens, and erosion prone slopes.
Companion Plants
- Schizachyrium scoparium (Little Bluestem) - A warm season grass that complements goldenrod’s yellow blooms and provides structural interest.
- Symphyotrichum oblongifolium (Aromatic Aster) - Offers deep blue flowers that contrast beautifully with golden blooms in fall.
- Monarda punctata (Spotted Beebalm) - Adds soft pink and cream bracts earlier in the season and thrives in similar dry soils.
- Coreopsis lanceolata (Lanceleaf Coreopsis) - Provides early season color and foliage compatibility in dry sites.
- Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Weed) - Pairs well in dry pollinator gardens with bright orange summer blooms that precede goldenrod’s fall display.