Solidago rigida aka Stiff Goldenrod

Solidago rigida is also known as stiff goldenrod. It belongs to the daisy family. Sources also call it Oligoneuron rigidum. This plant lives for years. It comes from Canada and the United States. Its range covers much of central and eastern North America. It also grows in parts of the western United States. Wild plants grow in prairies, thickets, and open woods. They also grow in glades and dry sites with gravel. The species is native to Missouri and the Midwest.

Garden plants grow 3–5 feet [0.91–1.52 metres] tall. They reach about 2.5 feet [0.76 metres] wide. Stiff, hairy stems hold the plant upright. It spreads through rhizomes, which are stems that grow underground. It can become somewhat weedy. Its broad leaves look gray-green in summer. They turn a soft rose shade in autumn. The tall stems may need support in the garden. Divide plants every two or three years to limit growth.

Bright yellow flower heads grow at the tops of stems. They form dense, flat groups. Each small head looks like a daisy. It can measure half an inch across. These heads are larger than those of many other Missouri goldenrods. Most flowers bloom in late summer and early autumn. Chicago Botanic Garden gives a longer bloom season. It lists July through October. Bees and butterflies visit the flowers. Birds eat the ripe seeds. Missouri Botanical Garden says people wrongly blame goldenrods for hay fever. Pollen from plants such as ragweed causes that reaction. The wind carries this pollen.

Grow stiff goldenrod in full sun. Use average soil that drains well. Chicago Botanic Garden lists medium water needs and USDA zones 3–9. The plant tolerates clay soil. Deer tend to avoid it. Remove old flower heads to help more flowers bloom. This also helps limit new plants from stray seeds. Use it in borders of plants that live for years. It also suits meadows, prairie plantings, and native gardens. Use it in areas where plants can spread on their own. Its late flowers add color as the growing season ends. Sources report no major pest or disease trouble. Leaf rust can occur.

Plants For A Future lists no known food uses or hazards. That report does not prove safety for every use. It records past uses of leaves, flowers, and roots as medicine. People used them to treat bleeding, stings, and problems with urination. These records do not prove that such treatments work. Nor do they show what dose is safe. The same source reports making rubber from leaf latex. It also records mustard, orange, and brown dyes from the plant.