Wand Goldenrod (Solidago stricta):
•Status in Florida: Native
•Native Habitat: Wet pine flatwoods, savannas, bogs, and marshes
•Native State/Country: Southeastern United States (Florida, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana)
•Growing Zones: 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
•Size at Maturity: 2 to 4 feet tall, 1 to 2 feet wide
•Phenology: Winter dormant
•Life Cycle: Perennial
•Growth Rate: Moderate
•Growth Habit: Upright, Open
•Bloom Season: Fall
•Sunlight Requirements: Full
•Soil Texture: Sand, Loam
•Soil pH: Slightly Acidic to Neutral
•Moisture Requirements: Moist, Average
•Tolerance to Salt Spray: Low/None
•Keystone Plant: Yes
•Recommended Landscape Uses: Pollinator gardens, wildflower meadows, rain gardens
•Maintenance Tips: Prefers moist, well-drained soils, but can tolerate occasional drought. Deadheading can extend bloom season. Cut back in winter for tidy growth.
•Considerations: Can spread via rhizomes but typically not aggressive.
•Hurricane Wind Resistant: Yes
•Erosion Control: Yes
•Nitrogen Fixing: No
•Edible: No
•Pet Safe: Yes
•Deer and Rabbit Resistance: Yes
•Historical Medicinal Uses: Used in traditional medicine for wound healing and as an anti-inflammatory.
•Florida Native Companion Plant (matching growing conditions): Blazing star (Liatris spp.), Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), Wiregrass (Aristida stricta)
•Wildlife Benefit: Pollinators, particularly bees and butterflies
•Caterpillar Host Plant: Yes, hosts several butterfly species, including the Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
•Propagation: Seed, Division
•Length of Time Seed is Viable: Up to 2 years
•Best Month to Start Seeds: Early spring
•Seed Treatments: Light to germinate