Description
Solidago bicolor (a.k.a. Silverrod)
CT DR P
Soil: Sandy, Rocky, Clay, Well-drained
Moisture: Average to Dry
Light: Full to Part Sun
Plant Height: 2 to 3 feet
Plant Width: 1 to 2 feet
Pests: None
Landscape Value: Great along wooded edges and in dry, open woods and rock gardens. Good for massing in naturalized areas.
A pollinator powerhouse and the only white goldenrod in the eastern US. Long-blooming, upright perennial with a thin, gray to reddish stem topped by an elongated cluster of short-stalked flower heads with creamy white rays surrounding a yellow central disc. Flowers bloom late summer into fall. Tolerates salt and drought. Attracts bees, butterflies, and seed-eating songbirds. The sap is toxic to mammals so deer and rabbits avoid it. Makes a great cut flower.
Warning: The leaves and fruit contain a toxic alkaloid. Although the toxicity of the fruit can disappear with ripening, it best not to eat them. Sensitivity to a toxin varies with a person’s age, weight, and physical condition.
2 gallon pot
Photo credits:
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (photo by Stephanie Brundage)
North Carolina State Extension (photo by Douglas Goldman)
