The Best Goldenrod for Your Garden: Thanks to Mt. Cuba Center!

There is a goldenrod for every garden.

Talking fall blooming goldenrods with snow on the ground? Well, yes, because a tranche of new information is now available thanks to the mecca of mid-Atlantic native gardening, Mt. Cuba Center. Plant trial results from a study of 71 goldenrods is the latest work by Mt. Cuba.

Last summer when the Manager of Horticultural Research, Sam Hoadley, led a tour of an on-going trial of oakleaf hydrangeas, he specifically addressed the only concern I have ever heard about the reams of helpful information on native plants produced through these Mt. Cuba Center trials -- sometimes the top plants are hard for home gardeners to find. Mt. Cuba is aware and is addressing this head on. This is why this plant trial report is doubly exciting. We will be able to find these plants!

To make sure this is the case, Mt. Cuba shared the results of the trial (and seeds!) with nursery growers a couple of years before releasing its report. The result? Growers are already ramping up efforts to grow the best performing plants.

goldenrod in tree lawn/verge

goldenrod 'Little Lemon'

I routinely write from my own gardening experience with a pledge to let you know if I am talking about something I have no experience with. In this case, I have only grown two types of goldenrod, Canada goldenrod, an aggressive spreader, and goldenrod 'Little Lemon', which took the opposite approach. It completely disappeared after a year. What is discussed here is based on Mt. Cuba's report with an added lense of whether the particular goldenrod is readily available at the moment. If you are interested in goldenrod details, the very best thing to do is peruse the on-line report and associated spreadsheet. The report is succinct and packed with info. The next best thing is to take a Mt. Cuba Center webinar next Tuesday, February 18th, 2026 ($25) featuring Sam Hoadley talking about the goldenrod trial. Kathy Jentz of the Garden DC podcast, also has an excellent episode with Sam as her guest and they talk all things goldenrods.

Goldenrods are extremely important garden plants. They are keystone plants - providing outsized ecological benefits to all manner of insects. They are pretty easy to grow, they make good cut flowers and they bloom in fall, most with a long bloom time. In winter, leaving the plants standing adds winter interest and is an important food source for birds. I have been looking to supplement my remaining Canada goldenrods, planted in the tree lawn or verge, and replacing the now defunct little lemon goldenrods for sometime. This report told me exactly what I needed to know in thinking through which to plant. Here are my takeaways.

Goldenrod in Border at Mt. Cuba

Best All Around Goldenrod

Fireworks wrinkle leaf goldenrod (Solidago rugosa 'Fireworks')

This looks to be the most widely available goldenrod of all and is also frequently sold at independent garden centers and on-line. It is available through Herring Run Nursery, Lauren's Garden Service Nursery, Lillian Farms, Putnam Hill Nursery, ThePollenNation, Unity Church Hill Nursery, Watermark Woods Native Plants, and The Wildflower Native Plant Nursery.

Goldenrod in Naturalistic Planting in Dappled Shade at Mt. Cuba

Best Goldenrods for Shade

These goldenrods grow beautifully in shade. If you read the report, you will see they did not rate well growing in the full sun trial conditions. In shade though, these are reported to grow very well.

Blue-stemmed goldenrod (Solidago caesia)

Looks to be widely available including Bona Terra Nursery, Earth Sangha, Izel Native Plants, Kollar Nursery, Lauren's Garden Service Nursery, Putnam Hill Nursery, Pollen Nation, Wakefield Nursery, Watermark Woods Native Plants, and The Wildflower Native Plant Nursery,

Broad-leaved goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis)

Looks to be widely available including Izel Native Plants, Lauren's Garden Service Nursery, Putnam Hill Nursery, ThePollenNation, Watermark Woods Native Plants, and The Wildflower Native Plant Nursery,

Best Goldenrod for Small Gardens

Ohio goldenrod (Solidago ohioensis)

Available through Izel Native Plants

Best Goldenrods for Fall Color

Stiff goldenrod (Goldenrod rigida)

Available through Earth Sangha, Lauren's Garden Service Nursery, and Watermark Woods Native Plants.

Pine barren goldenrod (Goldenrod fistulosa)

Available through Izel Native Plants

Best Goldenrods for Coastal Areas

Slender goldentop (Euthamia caroliniana)

Please note, Mt. Cuba notes that this goldenrod spreads by rhizomes, particularly in loose and moist soil. One strategy to minimize that spread is to plant in drier conditions. Available through Watermark Woods Native Plants,

Best for Feathery Foliage

Slender goldentop (Euthamia caroliniana)

Available through Watermark Woods Native Plants.

These nurseries list these plants on their general inventory. If you are headed to a nursery for a specific plant, please do check in advance to see if it is available, as always! And these aren't the only great goldenrods for your garden. There are many, many more. These rose to the top based on the report and on-line inventories. Seeds for many goldenrods are also available. Last, goldenrod is very easy to divide, another great way to get plants but please make sure you know the type of goldenrod you are getting!

Goldenrod, Asters and Amsonia at Mt. Cuba

More Take-Aways

• Most goldenrods do well with the "Chelsea chop." There are 7 that don't (Stiff goldenrod and its subspecies, Ridell's goldenrod (Solidago ridelleeii), shiny goldenrod (Solidago nitida), upland white goldenrod (Solidago ptarmicoides), and Ohio goldenrod.

• Many, many goldenrods are clump forming rather than aggressive rhizome spreaders. Check the spreadsheet for those.

• Goldenrods don't cause allergies (that's ragweed!).

• Most goldenrod are deer resistant.

If you are new to gardening or very busy, you might, as I once did, think "a goldenrod is a goldenrod. I'm lucky to just get some planted! Which species of goldenrod is a level of detail too far." I get it. But with plants that can take over a small garden or create more work, the best is to carefully select your species. It saves time and money in the long run!

As for me, I'll be looking for the smaller, feathery foliage and lighter yellow goldenrods so I have my eye on slender goldenrod and pine barren goldenrod. If you have grown any of these goldenrods or have your own favorite, please do share.

Thanks to Mt. Cuba, finding the right goldenrod just got a whole lot easier!

Happy Gardening.