Plant goldenrods for late season colour and to provide a great nectar source. Contrary to popular opinion, goldenrods do not cause allergic reactions. Look around near the goldenrod plants and you will find ragweed (the real culprit). Showy colourful flowers like goldenrod rely on insects (like butterflys) to pollinate them. This means the pollen is sticky and does not blow around on the wind. Ragweed on the other hand doesn’t even seem to have flowers. It is wind pollinated and doesn’t need to attract insects or other pollinators.
Gray Goldenrod
(Solidago nemorialis)
Ohio Goldenrod
(Solidago ohioensis)
Zig-zag Goldenrod
(Solidago flexicaulis)
Blue-stemmed Goldenrod (Solidago caesia)