How to Grow Fall Blooming Goldenrod

 Plant Goldenrod in the spring and enjoy flowers in the fall.  Goldenrod is a bright yellow wildflower that is one of the first flowers to bloom in the fall.  

This yellow flower grows on stems that are three to six feet tall and it will bloom at the end of summer through fall until the weather turns cold.   I did not plant it in my yard, the previous homeowners grew it in masses and it now grows amongst my white asters and purple coneflowers in my back garden.

Butterflies and hummingbirds are attracted to the goldenrod flower as it is rich in nectar. Along with being a good source of food it also provides shelter for wildlife.  Many people think of goldenrod as an invasive weed.  I value this flower because of the nectar it provides to butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds.

You can grow goldenrod from seed or you can buy a nursery-grown plant and transplant it to your garden after spring frost has passed.  Goldenrod is easy to grow from seed but you do have to keep the seeds in cold storage (refrigerator) for 60 days before planting.  Or you can sow the seeds in early spring or fall so that the seeds will be exposed to the cold.

Plant the seeds outdoors in an area where the flowers will get sun.  This plant is not fussy about the soil as it will grow in poor to average soil.  My soil is rocky and the goldenrod is a healthy plant.

Plant the seeds outdoors in an area where the flowers will get sun.  This plant is not fussy about the soil as it will grow in poor to average soil. Seedlings should emerge in two weeks as long as the temperature is a warm 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Keep the garden bed where the goldenrod is planted watered so that the soil is moist but not wet until the plant is established. 

Images on this post are by pixabay.com