Solidago Fireworks results.

13 years ago

I posted a while back that I had winter sowed Solidago Fireworks this year and had great germination but some questioned whether they would come true. FYI, they did!!

Actually I winter sowed another variety - can't remember the name - and it came true as well. So, for those of you who wish to see some late summer blooms in your gardens, this is another option. :O)

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Comments (9)

northerner_on
13 years ago
Thanks for the info. Tiffy. I too sowed two varieties of Solidago this year (Fireworks & Golden Fleece), and had good germination with Fireworks. I still need to put them in their permananet homes so perhaps I'll have some blooms next year.
tiffy_z5_6_can
Original Author
13 years ago
Oh! That's my other one too!! Golden Fleece. Love the large foliage on that one. :O) It did not bloom in it's first year but grew quite well.

We moved our Highbush Blueberries closer to some perennial beds and I planted all my Solidago seedlings with them.
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John, growing 'Fireworks' from seed isn't the advised method. Since there are usually other Solidagos in any neighborhood, and they cross quite readily, it's not thought to come true from seed. Of course, you might get some interesting hybrids: I've got one that has even Longer flower sprays I'm keeping an eye on, but most turn out to not be as compact or long sprays. So division of definite S. rugosa "Fireworks" is the way to go. That said, I've seen two instances of Goldenrod sold as "Fireworks' at separate nurseries that ain't the real deal. Close, but not as purty. NCBG is the original source: it was found by Ken Moore in a plant collection toward the coast, so a true NC native, and Kim Hawks helped to introduce it to nursery trade, so those sources are the genuine article. It is properly propagated in larger nursery trade, though, and is now planted hither and yon. Wonderful to see a North Carolina plant make such a splash worldwide!
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I love 'em too! The garden varieties are not invasive, contrary to popular belief...and I guess I should mention that they don't cause hayfever either (also contrary to popular belief). I have Solidago 'Goldkind'; 'Crown of Rays'; 'Laurin' (a very late bloomer, sometimes too late); something puzzlingly labelled as 'Hybr. Super' (very tall); a native species Solidago decumbens, which is an early bloomer (and it should be noted that the native species can be invasive in the garden); and a Solidaster (Solidago x Aster). Great plants. I'm still on the lookout for a Solidago rugosa 'Fireworks' - has anyone managed to acquire one?
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gardenweed_z6a
13 years ago
Tiffy - are you going to harvest seeds from the solidago? I've turned my nose up at it all these years because my little brother suffered terribly with hayfever as a toddler. He lived to grow up but moved to Florida to get away from all the New England pollen. My next-door neighbor has solidago growing and I could harvest seeds from his plants but they're growing with gooseneck loosestrife and I don't want to accidentally grab the wrong seeds. The GL has already spread to other flowerbeds in his yard & started growing up through the pavement of his driveway and he won't get rid of it.
diggerdee zone 6 CT
13 years ago
Oh gee, I was expecting pictures, tiff!!

Gardenweed, I wonder if you are getting confused with ragweed? I don't know if goldenrod causes allergies too, but I do know that so many people mix these two plants up. I use goldenrod in the bouquets I sell at the farmer's market and I am constantly assuring people that it is not ragweed. I think probably you can grow solidago without fear of allergies... unless of course you are indeed allergic to IT and not ragweed, lol!

:)
Dee
tiffy_z5_6_can
Original Author
13 years ago
I have to agree with Dee. Solidago is not the allergy culprit, but Ragweed is. DH has bad allergies and he loves the Solidago so we bring it in for bouquets all the time. The first time I did this he nearly took a fit thinking I was trying to do him in but I convinced him that Ragweed was his enemy. :O)

I'll try to get photos this weekend Dee.

Gardenweed - I'll see about collecting seed. If I collect it will be from a Solidago Fireworks not grown from seed but given by a friend. It has the strongest blooms on it right now and is beautiful!!
terrene
13 years ago
Goldenrod does NOT cause hay fever. This myth is completely illogical - Solidago species have showy flowers with heavy sticky pollen that are designed to attract and be pollinated by insects, not the wind. If you watch Goldenrod plants that are in bloom, they will be alive with insects. Ambrosia species (ragweed) have inconspicuous flowers that do not need to attract insects, because their abundant pollen is released to the wind. And that pollen is what causes hay fever.

'Fireworks' is a cultivar of Solidago rugosa - an attractive but highly variable species of goldenrod. Since Solidago is self-incompatible - meaning the Fireworks plant must cross-pollinate with another individual plant of a different genotype to produce seed - I would guess that as your WS'n plants grow, they will exhibit some of the variable characteristics of the species.

I would love to see pics too though! I love goldenrod.
ontnative
13 years ago
My(purchased) Solidago 'Fireworks' self-seeds somewhat and the progeny look just like the parent to me. I was wondering about Solidago bicolor. I had two S.bicolor plants but lost one. If I collect seeds from my one remaining plant, will the seeds be any good? Cullina says that asters are (usually?) self-unfruitful, but what about goldenrods??
terrene
13 years ago
Ontnative - from what I've read, Solidago is self-sterile just like Asters. My limited experience has shown that to be true. For several years, I have had ONE S. caesia plant - wreath goldenrod, and it is a lovely specimen. So I collected seed and WS'd in 2009 - not a single sprout!! And all the other Solidago species I've ws'n - at least 4 - have sprouted like crazy.

So this past fall, I was delighted to find some S. caesia growing along a friend's driveway, in a woodsy area - some wild plants. I dug up and transplanted a few small ones to my back garden. Hand-pollinated a couple with my original plant. We will see if the seeds sprout this year.

Don't know for sure though. Gardening is a big fun experiment!!
ontnative
13 years ago
I searched on the net and found that solidagos(goldenrods)are MOSTLY self-sterile, i.e. they don't usually pollinate themselves, but there can be a small percentage of fertile seeds produced. I will plant a large number of seeds collected from my one plant of bicolor and see if I can germinate a few seedlings. BTW I have several s.caesia scattered around my garden, and they usually self-seed a moderate amount for me. It is my favourite goldenrod.