Virginia ecotype - Northern Virginia
- Duration: Perennial
- Habit: Upright, clump-forming, spreads by reseeding
- Size: 2 to 5 feet tall; 1.5 to 2.5 feet wide
- Flowering Time: August to October
- Bloom Color: Bright yellow
- Habitat: Prairies, open woods, savannas, dry fields, and roadsides
- Moisture: Dry to average; well-drained
- Light: Full sun to part sun, best performance in full sun
- Soils: Sandy, loamy, or gravelly soils; tolerant of poor fertility, intolerant of poor drainage
- Uses: Prairie restoration, pollinator gardens, erosion control, drought-tolerant plantings, upright vertical interest
Solidago rigida (Stiff goldenrod)
Solidago rigida, or the Stiff Goldenrod, is a prairie-dwelling species with a unique form atypical of goldenrods. Thick upright stems, broad rough-textured leaves, and dense, flat-topped clusters of yellow flowers. Its form and foliage pubescence are an adaption to growing in harsh conditions with heavy competition, poor soils and little water. It does not spread by rhizomes or reseed heavily like some other Solidago species—making it easier to manage in mixed plantings.
Stiff goldenrod supports a large variety of insects, especially native bees, soldier beetles, and butterflies such as the Monarch. In particular it is a major draw for beneficial wasps. Pollinator activity rates high on studies including Solidago rigida, for its ability to attract some of the largest diversity of pollinating insects among other plant species trialed.
Rigid goldenrod a host plant for several moth caterpillars and specialist goldenrod-feeding insects. Because it tolerates drought, poor soils, and disturbance, it’s commonly used in prairie plantings and is especially useful in open, dry habitats where other goldenrods may struggle. Care should be taken to not amend the soil too heavily, as it really does prefer lean and lower organic soils that don't retain too much moisture.
Companion plants to consider would be Parthenium integrifolium (Wild quinine), Sorghastrum nutans (Indiangrass), Schizachyrium scoparium (Little Bluestem), and Liatris pilosa (Shaggy blazingstar).
The plants we grow are synonymous with Solidago rigida var. rigida, or Oligoneuron rigidum var. rigidum.