You Can Grow That- Rayless-goldenrod

As the harvest season approaches, golden colors abound in nature- in changing autumnal foliage, drying corn fields, and mums that enliven our landscapes. An underappreciated and virtually unknown southern native, Bigelowia nuttallii, or rayless-goldenrod, adds bright yellow accents to late season gardens. You can grow that- a diminutive goldenrod that is a tough perennial for dry, sunny, exposed areas. Even though a southerner, Bigelowia is hardy to USDA zone 4. A member of the Aster family, it forms tufts of narrow green leaves, from which arise wiry stalks topped with bright yellow umbels of flowers. Its long flowering season begins mid-July and lasts through October, making it especially pollinator-friendly. The rayless description pertains to the blooms, which have disk flowers only, lacking the showy ray flowers of a typical mum or daisy. Its shorter stature, up to 10” when in bloom, allows it to more easily mingle with garden neighbors, especially in rock gardens, where alpines typically keep a low profile. Found naturally on thin soils with acidic qualities, it needs no additional pampering in your garden. Add a late season splash of color to your plantings with rayless-goldenrod, which, despite its paucity of ray flowers, evokes late summer sunshine.


Bigelowia nuttallii, Rayless-goldenrod