Native goldenrod receives a bad rap and is incorrectly pegged as being responsible for hay fever. Goldenrod looks similar to ragweed and blooms in the fall at the same time as ragweed, but goldenrod is not the real culprit responsible for sneezing and scratchy throats.

The best way to tell the plants apart is by the flowers. Ragweed’s flowers are tiny and tend to be green or white-green instead of yellow and form spikes that rise above the foliage. During flowering time — late July through September — ragweed develops finger-like flower spikes at the tops of stems reaching toward the sky. Each spike can hold dozens of blooms and, once mature, each bloom releases clouds of pollen. Individual plants can produce in excess of one billion pollen grains!

Goldenrod’s flowers are bright yellow. Goldenrod is insect-pollinated; ragweed is wind-pollinated.

Ragweed can be mistaken for a harmless garden plant or even a young carrot or parsley patch.

The genus name for goldenrod is Solidago, Latin for Solidus, and means “to make whole” referencing the plant’s healing properties. The wild, or native, goldenrod plant is often foraged for its anti-inflammatory properties and has been used internally and topically as a natural remedy to reduce swelling and to alleviate minor wounds. Native Americans used this plant for medicinal purposes such as a poultice for bee stings. However, goldenrod is not approved by the FDA. Leaves have been used to brew tea, are cooked similarly to spinach, and can be used in soups, stews and casseroles.

Goldenrod is a perennial and grows in the wild throughout North America. It is hardy in agricultural zones two through nine. Most of Delaware is Zone 7B, with the northern tip being 7A and some of the coastal area being 8A. Some goldenrod species have adapted to full or partial shade, as well as a wide range of soil conditions which allows it to outcompete many other natives.

Goldenrod can be found growing in livestock pastures, hayfields and ditches along the side of the road in full-sun areas. It can also be found in partial shade, in moist locations or compost piles. Goldenrod is an excellent drought-tolerant choice for more compacted or degraded soils and makes exceptional and well-adapted home garden landscape plants. They can, however, be aggressive and can dominate smaller plantings. Plants in the goldenrod genus grow from either thick, clump-forming crowns or spreading rhizomes. The clump-forming species is a more reliable choice for landscaping in the home garden.

Goldenrod is in the aster family, growing to a height of three to seven feet. The flowers are only about ¼-inch wide and grow in tight and lengthy clusters. The flowers come into bloom during the final weeks of July or in early August and continue until October. Goldenrod is sometimes considered a weed because it tends to spread through self-seeding and hinder a garden’s yield, but it is one of the most beneficial plants for feeding pollinators.

Goldenrod produces prolific nectar and high-quality pollen rich in protein, fats and minerals supporting bees, wasps, butterflies, moths and beetles and is critical for migratory insects like the monarch butterfly. It is also the host plant for several butterfly and moth larvae. Its pollen grains are large, sticky and dense and too heavy to be carried by wind — which is why it cannot be blamed for your seasonal allergies.

Ragweed, with its wind-blown pollen, is a nasal nightmare. It is found in many agricultural settings but is most prevalent in corn and soybean fields using reduced or no-till practices and in low fertility fields. If common ragweed isn’t controlled before planting, its early season germination allows it to interfere with crop growth in no-till fields. When common ragweed emerges with the crop, yields can be substantially reduced.

Ragweed has developed resistance to herbicides, which makes it more difficult to control. But we will give it some credit: Ragweed’s inconspicuous flowers are a gold mine for bees, butterflies and birds offering a bounty of nectar and pollen. Its robust structure provides shelter and its seeds a vital food source. For gardeners who wish to attract pollinators to their home landscape, however, goldenrod is the sneeze-free choice.

For questions on this subject or any gardening topic, call the Master Gardener Helpline: In New Castle County, 302-831-8862; in Kent County, 302-730-4000; and in Sussex County, 302-831-3389. For information about master gardener workshops, visit udel.edu/master-gardeners and click on Garden Workshops.