Blue-Stemmed Goldenrod / Solidago caesia
A lovely woodland denizen that grows to three or four feet and elegantly drapes itself on other plants. Very well-behaved in the garden and a wonderful addition to shady spots. Like other goldenrods, it is massively attractive to bees. Between its namesake stem color, which is gorgeous on its own, to its shade tolerance and soil needs, it is definitely one of our favorite fall blooming plants and one we think should be in more gardens.
One of the most common questions we get is "What do you have for shade?" Blue-stemmed Goldenrod! Many are hesitant with goldenrods because they mistakenly believe they are all aggressive spreaders, but there are a number of species that are clumping plants like this one, including Showy Goldenrod and Stiff Goldenrod, that are model garden citizens. The other myth is that goldenrod pollen causes allergies, which is not the case because their pollen is too heavy to float on the wind (ragweed is generally the culprit here with its windborne pollen).
Seed Planting/Germination Key
Storage: Store in a cool, dry, dark place prior to planting.
Rule of thumb for depth of planting: The maximum depth should generally be half the width of the seed, but many wildflower seeds will germinate well if sown on the surface.
Easy: Generally germinates within 5 to 30 days with no need for cold pretreatment. Keep potting mix or soil consistently moist during the germination period.
Cold(30): Germination rates are higher if cold pretreatment applied either by placing the seed within moist paper towel or sand within a refrigerator for 30 days or outside in late winter.
Cold(60): Germination rates are higher if cold pretreatment applied either by placing the seed within moist paper towel or sand within a refrigerator for 60 days or outside in mid-winter.
Cold(90); Outdoors: Germination rates are higher if cold pretreatment applied either by placing the seed within moist paper towel or sand within a refrigerator for 90 days or outside in late fall or early winter. The best route is to plant these outdoors in either a pot or directly on the soil.
Approximate Seeds Per Packet: 100
Germination: Easy
Lifecycle: Perennial
Sunlight: Part, Shade
Soil Moisture: Medium
Height: 4
Bloom Period: September-October
Bloom Color: Yellow
USDA Zones: 4-8
Attracts: Bees, Butterflies
Larval Host For: Brown-hooded Owlet Moth