Solidago odora (Anise-Scented Goldenrod)

Size: 2-4’ tall / 1-2’ wide

Sun: Full Sun to Part Shade

Soil: Well-Drained, Dry-Medium

Bloom Time: Late Summer - Fall

Deer Resistance: 3/5 

Ecotype: Unknown

Solidago is a large, often misunderstood genus consisting of more than 100 species that are native to North America. With so many individual species, it should be clear that not all goldenrods are the same! Some are aggressive spreaders that colonize by sending out thick rhizomes in every direction, perfect for stabilizing large, recently-disturbed areas; others are more clump-forming, well-behaved, and play nicely with other perennials in a garden setting. Regardless of the species, two things are true:

1. They do not cause allergies. The flowers are insect-pollinated, whereas the pollen that causes allergies originates from plants that are wind-pollinated, like Ragweeds (Ambrosia spp.). 

2.  They are a keystone species. They serve as a larval host plant for more than 125 butterfly and moth species, and the flowers are a crucial late-season food source for all pollinators. No pollinator garden is truly complete without at least one species of goldenrod. 

Anise-Scented Goldenrod is a clump-forming species of goldenrod with mildly fragrant leaves. It has good drought tolerance, can handle poor soils, and blooms earlier than some other goldenrods. If you have any interest in using the leaves of goldenrods for tea, this species would be one of the best picks. Like all goldenrods, after blooming the plant produces beautiful seedheads that persist into the winter and provide food for songbirds.