Photo by Chambers Design
If you are like me, you love autumn. The dramatic change to the landscape is inspiring. Where greens and purples abound, yellows and oranges appear. In thinking about your yard or garden, the question is how do you capture the beauty of fall?
A great way to embrace autumn is to use forbs and grasses that pop with life in the later months of the year. One genus of plant that really encapsulates the body of September and October is Solidago. Its common name is Goldenrod and it is everywhere this time of year. It loves full sun to full shade, wet to dry soil. You have likely seen it in bloom but didn’t realize it. It grows in open fields along the road as well as deep within forests. This past weekend, I found it painting a meadow yellow in Allentown, NJ as well as dotting the woodlands of South Mountain Reservation.
A great way to embrace autumn is to use forbs and grasses that pop with life in the later months of the year. One genus of plant that really encapsulates the body of September and October is Solidago. Its common name is Goldenrod and it is everywhere this time of year. It loves full sun to full shade, wet to dry soil. You have likely seen it in bloom but didn’t realize it. It grows in open fields along the road as well as deep within forests. This past weekend, I found it painting a meadow yellow in Allentown, NJ as well as dotting the woodlands of South Mountain Reservation.
Photo by Chambers Design
It is native to all of North America with specific species adapted to more northern and southern climates. It also comes in a variety of heights. For example, the S. ohioensis is the tallest versions of the plant topping out at 40 inches while S. x ‘Little Lemon’ is a shorter option only reaching about 12 inches in height. Other options include S. rugosa ‘Fireworks’, S. shortii ‘Solar Cascade’ and S. sphacelata ‘Golden Fleece’. All of these have different heights and spreads and other unique attributes.
In designing your yard to capture the autumn beauty, it’s important to think how you want to use the flower. Do you need it to be a dynamic filler or more of a seasonal interest plant? Are you trying to use it functionally with a rain garden, or is to for privacy?
Goldenrod does have a wild side. It doesn’t grow straight up like a grass, though it does enjoy standing tall. It’s often top-heavy so it will lean toward the sunlight when it can. If planted in mass, you can define a border with its color, and it can make for naturalized privacy for the late season. You can also think about combining Goldenrod with other natives such as Lindera benzoin (spicebush). As the spicebush’s leaves change into their fall colors, the Goldenrod can magnify its spectacular presence. It can also be planted near or intermingled with Lobelia cardinalis (cardinal flowers) to highlight the contrast of the L. cardinalis red flowers to the yellow blooms of the Solidago.
In designing your yard to capture the autumn beauty, it’s important to think how you want to use the flower. Do you need it to be a dynamic filler or more of a seasonal interest plant? Are you trying to use it functionally with a rain garden, or is to for privacy?
Goldenrod does have a wild side. It doesn’t grow straight up like a grass, though it does enjoy standing tall. It’s often top-heavy so it will lean toward the sunlight when it can. If planted in mass, you can define a border with its color, and it can make for naturalized privacy for the late season. You can also think about combining Goldenrod with other natives such as Lindera benzoin (spicebush). As the spicebush’s leaves change into their fall colors, the Goldenrod can magnify its spectacular presence. It can also be planted near or intermingled with Lobelia cardinalis (cardinal flowers) to highlight the contrast of the L. cardinalis red flowers to the yellow blooms of the Solidago.
Photo by Chambers Design
Solidago is edible. You can make tea from the flowers and leaves. In fact, its tea was once known as “Liberty Tea” because it was widely used as an alternative to regular tea after the Boston Tea Party of 1773. It was so popular that China imported it. There are many medical uses for the plant too and has a history of addressing digestive and urinary problems, wounds, ulcers, and cancers. However, check with your doctor, herbiest or medical professional before you use or consume it.
Solidago is good for rain gardens to help manage rainwater. It, along with species mentioned above (L. benzoin and L. cardinalis) tolerates inundated conditions of up to six inches of water. These types of plants are critical for the functionality of the wet zone of your rain garden. If you have the room in your rain garden, you can add black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) and/or elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) with the Solidago and spicebush. All of these plants are edible and you will literally have a wild edible oasis that doubles as a stormwater management device. Your rain garden won’t just be food for you. It is a hugely important late-season food source for beneficial insects. Bees depend on Solidago heavily as other plants go dormant and nectar is in short supply. Its nectar attracts butterflies as they get set to migrate south for the winter. Other regular visitors include pirate bugs, solider beetles, and hoverflies - all of which are natural pest controls for slugs, snails and aphids.
Solidago is good for rain gardens to help manage rainwater. It, along with species mentioned above (L. benzoin and L. cardinalis) tolerates inundated conditions of up to six inches of water. These types of plants are critical for the functionality of the wet zone of your rain garden. If you have the room in your rain garden, you can add black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) and/or elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) with the Solidago and spicebush. All of these plants are edible and you will literally have a wild edible oasis that doubles as a stormwater management device. Your rain garden won’t just be food for you. It is a hugely important late-season food source for beneficial insects. Bees depend on Solidago heavily as other plants go dormant and nectar is in short supply. Its nectar attracts butterflies as they get set to migrate south for the winter. Other regular visitors include pirate bugs, solider beetles, and hoverflies - all of which are natural pest controls for slugs, snails and aphids.
Photo by Chambers Design
By designing the right balance and texture with Solidago, you grab a piece of autumn for your very own. The combination of complimentary plants make it even more value to you and nature. In the end, you get a beautiful, sustainable yard as well as a thriving micro-ecosystem that you can feel good about all year long.
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