​Solidago juncea, Early Goldenrod

The first to bloom of the Goldenrods I offer. these grow to around 30” tall and bloom in July in the Ottawa area. Early Goldenrod is similar in appearance to Canada Goldenrod, but in a more compact form and a much earlier blooming season.

Their ecological niches include some surprising locations, notably part shade areas with thin or acidic soil, as well as more conventional dry meadow settings. In very lean soils a patch may not bloom every year and their large, leathery base leaves can cause some confusion if there aren’t any of their, much more typical of the Goldenrod family, blooming stems present to help with identification.

Their tolerance of dry, low organic matter makes them an appropriate species to plant in difficult sites like along boulevards, if their height is permitted by local bylaws, or any other locations where soil is well drained and watering intermittent, or not available.

As is typical of Goldenrods, these are hugely popular with a wide range of pollen and nectar feeding species, including specialist species that only feed on members of the Solidago family.

I wouldn’t go so far as to say that these are entirely a clump forming species, but they are much less assertive than some of their taller relatives and I think that they would coexist reasonably well in a garden setting as long as their neighbours are also reasonably assertive or accomplished at holding their space.

In a dry, sunny meadow garden, these mix well with native grasses, Lewis' Wild Blue Flax, Spotted Horsemint, Orange Butterfly Weed, Lance Leaved Coreopsis, Grey Stem Goldenrod (September blooming, to pick up where the Early goldenrod finishes blooming), Black-Eyed-Susan, Heath Aster, Prairie Smoke and Rough Blazing Star.