Solidago sphacelata 'Golden Fleece' - AUTUMN GOLDENROD 'GOLDEN FLEECE' (short & groundcovering)

Groundcovering and late and long blooming goldenrod with superior qualities. Attracts hummingbirds, Monarchs, butterflies and many native pollinators, honeybees and small birds.

One of the best Goldenrod garden performers in Chicago Botanic Garden trials, winner of Stauden Union Award in 1994 (Perennial Plants Asssociation, Switzerland).

Durable, disease free, deer resistant and long-lived.

18-24" tall x 24-36" wide (after several years of growing), slowly spreading compact clumps, rosettes of heart-shaped leaves, arching spikes of small yellow flowers from September usually till frost.

Full sun, half sun, half shade, average to dry soil, drier clay, poor soil. Drought tolerant.

Hardy in zones 4 to 9.

The species of Solidago shacelata is native to eastern USA, see the BONAP distribution map.

Deer and rabbit resistant, black walnut tolerant. This pollinator magnet will bring Hairstreaks, sulphurs and skippers to your garden and will feed Monarchs on their fall south journey.

There are not many reliable groundcovers for sun (most competitive, so true groundcovers are really shade plants), but 'Golden Fleece' is one of the exceptions.

Introduced in late 80's by Mt. Cuba Center in Delaware - a chance seedling was brought by Dr. Richard Lighty to Mt. Cuba for evaluation and soon it revealed as little gem.

Flower beds, edges, on the edges of retaining walls, water wise planting, prairie and naturalistic plantings, pollinator, butterfly and Monarch gardens.

Useful in urban areas with extreme conditions, traffic islands and on leaner soils.

Can be combined with many common perennials (for average to dry soil), looks wonderful with blue or purple asters, late blooming Liatris (L. aspera), grasses or seedheads of Echinacea purpurea.

Easy to grow perennial with great ecological value and long-lasting cut flower.

Pot size : square 3.5" x 5" deep pot

Picture copyright : Mt. Cuba