Fireworks Goldenrod

Light Needs

Full Sun

(At Least 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

2-3 Feet

Mature Spread

2-3 Feet

Growing Zones

5 to 8

Fireworks Goldenrod is notable for the sprays of bright yellow flowers that appear en masse at the tops of arching stems in late summer and persist into fall. Butterflies like monarchs, native bees, and other pollinators flock to the late-season blooms. Birds enjoy the seedheads that follow the flowers, so this goldenrod makes an excellent addition to wildlife-friendly gardens. This cultivar of Solidago rugosa offers dark green foliage and grows with a compact, mounded habit that rarely needs staking.

The parent species of this cultivar is native to Eastern and Central North America. It naturally occurs across a broad range and in varied environments including swamps, wet meadows and ditches. Fireworks Goldenrod offers resistance to deer and rabbits and makes an attractive cut flower. The pollen is not windblown but instead sticky, so it is not responsible for allergies. Plant multiples of these goldenrods together to create a blazing yellow mass or add them to a mixed perennial border, wild garden, or naturalized area.

Fireworks Goldenrod Care

The ideal growing site for this goldenrod offers full sun and soil that is well-drained and slightly acidic. It can tolerate wet soil, light shade, slightly alkaline soils and a range of soil textures. Fireworks Goldenrod is tolerant of heat and drought once established. Mulch around the base of the plant at planting to encourage root growth. Goldenrods do not require fertilizer in most soils; too much nitrogen will cause floppy growth. Instead, add a few handfuls of compost to the planting hole.

Cut the Fireworks Goldenrod back to an inch or two above the soil line in spring when new growth begins to emerge. Since this plant spreads vigorously, dividing the plant every two to three years will control growth and keep it from overtaking sections of the landscape.

Fireworks Goldenrod Spacing

Fireworks Goldenrod grows 30 inches tall with a mature spread of 24 inches and has a tightly mounded form. Group multiple plants together or give a single clump ample room to grow, at least 2 feet of clearance, as this plant really shines when used for a mass planting.