I love Goldenrods and there are several natives - some are S. caesia (Wreath G.), S. odora (Sweet or Anise-scented G.), S. arguta (Cut-leaf G.), S. chysoma (Sand Hills G. which is evergreen), and S. nemoralis (Dwarf G.). I would assume the natives are really good at seeding around since you rarely see just one - usually a grove of them in the ditch.

I have two that are very mannerly and stay in neat clumps - S. rugosa 'Fireworks' (rather short) and S. ulmifolia (Elm-leaf G., also a native) which tops out around 3 feet, blooms late, and is very floriferous).

There are seeds available for dwarf forms - mostly S. canadensis. I've never tried saving the seeds as I just prefer to dig up parts of the clump of the S. ulmifolia and I do not see seedlings near it after 2 years in the ground.

Prarie Moon Nurseries have a variety of seeds available.

I've been looking for quite a while for the hybrid between Solidago and Aster = Solidaster, but that's another thread.

Perhaps someone else has more input for you. Me? I cultivate the ones in my ditch, wild areas, and the pretty ones I traded for. I love them all!
Nancy

I also am crazy about solidago. I mentioned on a post a couple of weeks ago that I had what I thought was fireworks (exact same grown habit) growing in my front bed all summer. When it finally flowered it was covered with the very tiniest aster flowers. I wonder if that is a solidaster. I'll have to look for the tag when I redo that bed soon. Adele

thanks for the great info.
i came home from the fall swap
with an s. rugosa "fireworks",
and i've never grown solidago.
i've been wondering how to use
it to highlight its assets :)
marsha

Marsha, the Fireworks is a very fast growing plant and will make a rather large clump in short time. Also reseeds true for me. It stays evergreen, the basal leaves dont die back in winter. I think it makes a good background plant- a nice fountainy green mass for most of the growing season. Cutting it back in late fall is a job but if you don't you will have LOTS of seedlings. I like it's large size and the way it gave the bed it was in a fuller mature look in such little time.

Shari

I've grown many over the years and 'Fireworks' is by far my favorite. I imagine seed would be as easy as any other perennial but it may take a few years to get blooming sized plants whereas from divisions you can usually have blooms the next fall or within 6 months if you divide in the spring.

I grew the white form from the mountains called Silverod and it grew ok but the blooms are kinda wimpy and skimpy so I left it to its own and now have no idea where it is or if it is even alive.

Solidaster is hard to find - the seed is most often sold only to the cut flower trade. I've been looking for plants or seed and haven't found any so far.

I've got so much goldenrod growing wild I get sick of it! :) I think I'd like the more compact cultivars a lot better.

Talk about compact, narrow cultivars, I've got a youngun of solidago stricta...she's supermodel material.

John, Bluestone has a solidaster for sale. Don't know if it is the kind you are looking for. I was looking there last night to see if they carried any. Adele

Solidago sphacelata 'Golden Fleece' is a nice small goldenrod (~18 inches) that has stayed compact for me. There's a new one out there called 'Golden Baby' -- I haven't seen it in person but the pictures are nice. BTW, I know I've seen Solidaster 'Lemore' (plants) for sale locally in the Triangle some time in the past year. Have to think where that was.

I've got white Solidago growing wild in my meadow bed. It looks so good with blue asters and the red salvias this year that I'm going to mark them so I don't accidentally weed them out next spring. I'm sure it's been growing out there for years, but I've never really appreciated it until this fall.

John, growing 'Fireworks' from seed isn't the advised method. Since there are usually other Solidagos in any neighborhood, and they cross quite readily, it's not thought to come true from seed. Of course, you might get some interesting hybrids: I've got one that has even Longer flower sprays I'm keeping an eye on, but most turn out to not be as compact or long sprays.

So division of definite S. rugosa "Fireworks" is the way to go. That said, I've seen two instances of Goldenrod sold as "Fireworks' at separate nurseries that ain't the real deal. Close, but not as purty.

NCBG is the original source: it was found by Ken Moore in a plant collection toward the coast, so a true NC native, and Kim Hawks helped to introduce it to nursery trade, so those sources are the genuine article.

It is properly propagated in larger nursery trade, though, and is now planted hither and yon. Wonderful to see a North Carolina plant make such a splash worldwide!

Thanks for the tip on Bluestone, adele, but have you checked the stock right under your nose at BB? I love that cloth of gold solidago, and that solidaster is to die for...I've never heard of it...just like butt-ah!!

Yeh I checked, they had never heard of it either. Adele