Plant Min Zone: 4a
Plant Max Zone: 8b
Sunlight: Part Sun, Shade
Water / Rainfall: Low, Average
Soil Quality: Poor, Average
Bloom Season: Late Summer, Fall
Flower Color: Yellow, Gold
Berry / Fruit Color: None
Spring Foliage Color: Green
Summer Foliage Color: Green
Fall Foliage Color: Green, Yellow
Evergreen Foliage: Some
Winter Interest: Some
Scented Flowers: No
Drought Tolerance: Medium, High
Wet-Feet Tolerance: Low
Humidity Tolerance: High
Wind Tolerance: Medium
Poor Soil Tolerance: Clay Soils, Rocky Soils, Alkaline Soils (high PH)
Height: 1.5' - 2'
Width: 2' - 2.5'
Growth Rate: Medium, Fast
Service Life: Long: 5-10 years
Maintenance Need: Low
Spreading Potential: Medium
Yearly Trimming Tips: Trim Perennial to Ground Around First Fall Freeze: No Winter Interest.
Plant Grouping Size: Small Grouping of 3-5
Best Side of House: East Exposure, North Exposure
Extreme Planting Locations: Root-Bound Soils Under Tree, Survives Severe Drought, Top of Retaining Wall Locations, Resistant to Rabbits
Ornamental Features: Multiple Seasons of Interest, Long Blooming Season, Long Lasting Fall Color
Special Landscape Uses: Naturalizing, Groundcover
Possible Pest Problems: Foliage Disease
Plant Limitations: Sometimes Mistaken as Weed
Zig Zag Goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis) is native to the eastern and central parts of the United States and Canada. This woodland goldenrod, with erect, somewhat zig-zag stems, bears small flower heads at each node along the stem and upper leaves. The oval leaves are a rich green, pointed, and coarsely toothed. Considered one of the best plants for solving your most difficult dry-shade landscape challenges and still providing flowers. Goldenrods are not wind-pollinated and therefore do not cause standard hay fever or allergies. This goldenrod attracts butterflies. Rabbit and deer resistance is good. Zig Zag Goldenrod has been planted in our trial gardens over 10 years ago on a hill in part-sun to dry shade. The slowly expanding clump is virtually maintenance free, only needing trimmed in fate fall. Zig Zag Goldenrod is not well known or available in garden centers but worthy of wider scale landscape use.