Zigzag Goldenrod, the Lovable Thug
Zigzag Goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis) may be a thug, but it’s a thug with good qualities, kind of like Tony Soprano from The Sopranos. (Though I know people with deeply opposing views on Tony’s character.)
There is a patch of Zigzag Goldenrod behind the Gray Dogwood (Cornus racemosa) in a part of the back garden I refer to as the Thicket Corner. This is a wildish area that surrounds the Siberian Elm (Ulmus pumila). Last Sunday Judy and I were sitting in the back sunroom when we noticed how the Zigzag was glowing in the afternoon light. It provided an enchanting vignette.
Zigzag is one of the Goldenrods that is happy in shade. It’s also relatively short (for a member of the genus Solidago), at about 2-3 feet tall. This means it can mix fairly comfortably with other native woodland plants, especially ephemerals.
It is also unusual for a Goldenrod in that the flowers zig and zag their way up the stem, which may be the origin of its common name. As with other Solidagos, the flowers are highly attractive to pollinators.
You can love Zigzag Goldenrod, but do not trust it. Keep it in naturalistic, uncultivated areas. Do not let it get close to any cultivated garden beds with rich soil.
That would bring out Zigzag’s dark side, just as certain opportunities always brought out the predator in Tony Soprano. Rhizomes will invade soft loam with frightening speed, and I am too squeamish to describe the aftermath.
Keep S. flexicaulis in its proper place and we can all be happy, and nobody gets hurt. Capisce?
gardeninacity 
Ha! So true!
A smile for Wednesday morning – can’t be a bad thing. Joking aside if we know the capabilities of our plants we can enjoy them at their best without worrying what will happen next. Every plant is a case of right place right plant; we forget that at our peril.
Very true. And by the way, I was told that the phrase “capisce” is really American slang – people don’t say it in Italy. Is that true?
Here they would ‘properly’ say hai capito putting “do you understand” into the past and saying “have you understood”. Sicilians might say “capisce” but it would be slang here too.
This is a new one to me, how pretty. I thought your American Solidagos aren’t supposed to be such thugs as our European ones. As they are so good for bees, I have one. It is called Solidago rugosa. So far it is behaving. It reminds me of a candelabra.
I thought all Solidagos were American. Apparently not. I hope S. rugosa keeps behaving well for you!
I love that you have so many fabulous plants for pollinators, Jason.
Goldenrod for shade, I love it! I need to add this to my woodland area were it can spread to its heart content.
Give it a shot, it is native to parts of Georgia.
I can see how it got it’s name, how lovely!xxx
The zig-zag goldenrod looks lovely in Thicket Corner!
Thanks – I think so, too.
A nice goldenrod Zigging and Zagging through your garden.
Just so.
Our roadsides are covered with goldenrod now.
One of the delights of fall.
Oh, too funny! I especially like “You can love Zigzag Goldenrod, but do not trust it.” Reminds me of my cat Sherlock 😉
Something that can be said of many plants and animals – and people, I suppose.
You’ve tempted me to try this plant – despite the warnings!
OK, I’m glad you acknowledged the warning. Enjoy!
Gosh, I don’t know where to start! First, you have an amazing patch of Zigzag Goldenrod! And it’s beautiful! Next, I can’t imagine it being a thug because I’ve had a little trouble establishing it in my garden. Perhaps it’s because I have such a wild garden and the bunnies and chipmunks and squirrels want to eat it and dig it up? I don’t know why, but now it’s starting to fill in. You give me an idea, however. I’m going to try to spread some seed in an area in the woods that could benefit from a naturalistic patch of the stuff. Happy WW!
I have lots of rabbits and chipmunks. They eat lots of plants, but not the Goldenrod to my knowledge. Maybe deer?
I’d like to try this in shade.
(I don’t have much shady, but I have some bare space beneath a crape myrtle or three.)
Interestingly, you and Beth at PlantPostings featured the same plant today! Great minds think alike 🙂 https://plantpostings.blogspot.com/2016/09/plant-of-month-zigzag-goldenrod.html
It’s a plant that stands out at this time of year!
I am so tired of dealing with “thugs” all summer that I would pretty much shy away from anything that has the potential to take over. Having said that, it is a very pretty plant.
I don’t blame you, but my own attraction to plant thugs is sometimes overwhelming. Still, I try to set boundaries.
I’ve seen it only once in the wild and that was years ago; so long I’ve forgotten where it was.
I don’t know that I have ever seen it in the wild.
I have a variegated variety but the variegation is very slight. It’s thriving in dry shade. Hooray!
Good to hear. It’s a pretty tough plant. Enjoy!
I love the idea of the loveable thug! I could name about three in our garden. The zigzagging flowers are very pretty, but I’m not tempted!
We should always think twice before getting involved with another thug.
I have not found it to be a thug here in SE Nebraska. I have had a couple clumps for a few years, and it has not spread as much as I would like it to. Maybe it’s because it doesn’t get as much water as it would prefer. Mine also tend to flop over.
Less moisture could make the difference.
That’s a lovely aster plant–so cheery, even if it’s a bully.
Goldenrod is a cheerful presence in autumn.
Hello Jason, I was just thinking that this plant could make a good appearance in our garden, especially given that it flowers late and looks good in the sun but then I got to the part about not trusting it in rich soil and with other ornamentals and I had to give up the idea for the havoc that introducing it would cause. Thanks for the warning!