Solidago rugosa 'Fireworks'
flowerFireworks (Solidago rugosa) is the goldenrod that converted a generation of gardeners - instead of a stiff cone, it sends out arching, horizontal sprays of tiny golden flowers that really do look like a fireworks burst, on well-behaved 3 to 4 ft clumps that spread slowly rather than running. It blooms in fall and is a native keystone plant: goldenrods support an enormous number of pollinators and caterpillars and are one of the most important late-season nectar and pollen sources in North America. And to clear up the old myth, goldenrod does not cause hay fever - its heavy, sticky pollen is carried by insects, not wind; ragweed is the real culprit.
Sun
full sun
Water
Every 5 days
Bloom
~120 days
Difficulty
easy
Lifecycle
perennial
Comes back every year
Spacing
24 in. apart
Planting Depth
Crown at soil line
Soil pH
5.5-7.5
Soil Type
Average, well-draining
Hardiness Zones
Zones 4 – 9
When to Fertilize
None needed in average soil
Fertilizer
None; compost if poor
Plant Fireworks in full sun (it tolerates light shade) in average, well-drained soil; it adapts to clay and to slightly dry or moist ground and is far less aggressive than ditch goldenrods, spreading only slowly by rhizomes. Space plants about 2 ft apart. It needs little care - no staking at this height and no fertilizer in average soil. Leave the dead stems standing through winter: native bees nest in the hollow stems, so cut them back to 12 to 24 in. in spring rather than clearing them in fall.
🌼 Have a different variety?Cultivars of the same species usually share the same basic care — they differ mainly in flower color, height, and bloom form, not in how you grow them. So this guide still applies even if your exact variety isn't the one shown.
Direct sow
Apr 15
Projected first bloom
Aug 13
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Give full sun and airflow and remove rust-affected foliage; rarely serious on a vigorous native
Space plants for air circulation and water at the base in humid weather
Generally pest-free
Goldenrod is a tough native with no significant pest problems - its main historic problem is an undeserved hay-fever reputation
Fireworks is a wonderful cut flower, its arching golden sprays adding movement to fall bouquets - cut when the sprays are well in color, in the cool morning. In the garden, the best practice for wildlife is to leave the spent stems standing over winter: the hollow stems shelter overwintering native bees and the seed feeds birds. Cut back to 12 to 24 in. in spring so the old stems keep providing nesting habitat.
Goldenrod is a native keystone pollinator plant - few perennials feed more wildlife. Its fall flowers are a critical late-season nectar and pollen source for honeybees, native bees, wasps, butterflies, and beetles building winter reserves, and the genus hosts well over a hundred species of butterfly and moth caterpillars (essential bird food). The hollow winter stems also provide nesting sites for native bees.
For educational and informational purposes only — HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.