Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →

How to Grow Goldenrod

If you drive the highways of the United States, chances are good that you’ve seen goldenrod. The clusters of showy, yellow blooms atop fuzzy, green foliage grow wild in meadows and along roadsides and are hard to miss as you pass by. Goldenrod isn’t a fussy plant, and once it’s established, it can grow nearly anywhere. In the home garden, goldenrod is often seen in naturalized rock gardens, wildflower gardens or herb gardens. Goldenrod is a popular herbal remedy used to treat a number of health conditions, including colds and flu, digestive problems and fatigue.

Decide where you want to plant the goldenrod seeds. Although goldenrod will grow nearly anywhere, it prefers sun and well-drained soil.

  • If you drive the highways of the United States, chances are good that you’ve seen goldenrod.

Work some organic material such as mulch, leaves or compost into the soil. Plant the goldenrod seeds and cover them with a very thin layer of soil. Once the seedlings emerge, thin them to about one plant every 12 inches. Water the goldenrod lightly but frequently until the plants are established.

Mature goldenrod plants will be tall, so plant the seeds in an area that is sheltered from the wind if possible. Otherwise, they may need stakes to keep them upright.

Clip the blooms before they have a chance to go to seed, otherwise you may have more goldenrod than you bargained for. Divide the goldenrod every few years to keep them healthy and to prevent overcrowding.

  • Work some organic material such as mulch, leaves or compost into the soil.
  • Plant the goldenrod seeds and cover them with a very thin layer of soil.

Kill Goldenrod

Moisten the soil with 1 inch of water and hand pull goldenrod to remove and kill it. Discard debris in the trash. You can also use a spade or hoe to dig and remove goldenrod from the soil. Wait six to eight months for your goldenrod to die before removing the cardboard. Dicamba, for example, is a broadleaf herbicide that kills goldenrod effectively, according to Purdue University. If goldenrod is located in the garden, spray a non-selective herbicide carefully so it does not reach other plants. Use it on a calm day at least 48 hours before an expected rain. Reapply in two weeks if plants start to grow again.

  • Moisten the soil with 1 inch of water and hand pull goldenrod to remove and kill it.

Tip

There are many types of goldenrod. If you want a smaller, more compact plant that won't be as invasive, look for a dwarf variety such as Golden Fleece, Crown of Rays or Goldenmosa.

Related Articles

Care for Foxglove Plants
Care for Foxglove Plants
How to Grow Stinging Nettles
How to Grow Stinging Nettles
What Weed Killer Kills Buckthorn?
What Weed Killer Kills Buckthorn?
How to Kill Broadleaf Plantain
How to Kill Broadleaf Plantain
How to Propagate Lupine
How to Propagate Lupine
How to Care for the Gaillardia Indian Blanket Flower
How to Care for the Gaillardia Indian Blanket Flower
How to Care for African Daisy
How to Care for African Daisy
Allergies of the Daisy Family
Allergies of the Daisy Family
How to Care for the Primrose Flower
How to Care for the Primrose Flower
How to Care for Cornflower
How to Care for Cornflower
How to Grow Bishop's Weed
How to Grow Bishop's Weed
How Do I Kill Tansy Weeds?
How Do I Kill Tansy Weeds?
List of Native Wild Flowers in Tennessee
List of Native Wild Flowers in Tennessee
How to Harvest Snapdragon Seeds
How to Harvest Snapdragon Seeds
Is a Citronella Plant Toxic to Dogs?
Is a Citronella Plant Toxic to Dogs?
The Lowest Temperature of Marigold Plants
The Lowest Temperature of Marigold Plants
How Do I Propagate Foxgloves?
How Do I Propagate Foxgloves?
Garden Guides
×