Solidago juncea - Goldenrod, Early

Height: 2’ to 4’
Spread: 2’ to 3’
Light Needs: full sun to partial shade
Water: average to dry
Flower color: yellow
Bloom time: June to August

This wildflower is early blooming for a goldenrod. Literature is confusing about its growth habit. It appears that this plant spreads slowly by rhizomes and eventually forms an open colony.  This would make it a fairly high maintenance plant in a formal garden. However, the growth habit and its comparatively short stature is ideal for a pocket prairie or a pollinator garden where it could spread among the grasses and other wildflowers. Numerous specialized bees as well as butterflies and other insect pollinators visit the flowers. It is reported to be deer resistant. 

It is worth noting that goldenrods do not cause hay fever. Lightweight, air-borne pollen grains of plants like ragweed cause hay fever. Goldenrod pollen is comparatively heavy and sticky. It is moved from flower to flower by insects.