Goldenrod, Rigid – Solidago rigida

Description

Rigid Goldenrod

Rigid or Stiff Goldenrod can adapt to a wide range of conditions and thrives in the most inhospitable soils.  It is an important source of nectar for many pollinators.  The many tiny bright yellow, daisy-like flowers are born in dense, flat-topped clusters on stiff upright stems.  Mainly found east of the Rocky Mountains.  The Monarch butterfly especially prefers its flowers during the fall migration. The seeds are important late-season bird food.  This goldenrod is an important staple in the late fall landscape.  The late-season pollen and nectar serve as an important late-season food source for a variety of bees, butterflies, and other pollinators including the next generation of bumblebee queens foraging prior to entering winter dormancy.

Direct sow the seed in early spring before the soil begins to warm or in late fall, planting it just under the surface and watering it once. If direct sown in the spring, the seed must be stratified first by storing it in the refrigerator for 6-8 weeks. To start the stratified seed indoors, sow it in a flat; keep the soil evenly moist and at a temperature of 65-70 degrees F until germination, which should take place within 14-20 days. Transplant the seedlings after the last frost of spring, placing them 18-24” apart. This plant prefers full sun and sandy or dry soil.

Color: Yellow-Gold
Height: 3′-5′
Type: Perennial
Climate: Sun-Dry
Seeds/oz.: 46,000
Rate:  1oz./960 sq.ft.
Bloom time:  Summer to Late Fall
Zone: 4a – 9a