Solidago patula

In diverging from the plant’s stem, roundleaf goldenrod’s long, flowering branches take on an attractive arching quality, reaching out gracefully to attract the aerial fauna. Like other goldenrods, roundleaf goldenrod provides floral rewards to a wide range of pollinators, supports specialist bees that have strict pollen requirements, and also serves as a food source to numerous caterpillar species. Largely owing to their role as caterpillar hosts, the goldenrods are distinguished as keystone species in North American ecosystems – i.e., species that have a disproportionately large, positive effect on the abundance and diversity of other organisms. Through hosting caterpillars, goldenrods like roundleaf goldenrod indirectly support a variety of birds that almost exclusively feed caterpillars to their nestlings.

Due to the ecological benefits that the goldenrods provide, it’s a good idea to include at least one species of goldenrod when planting a native plants garden. If there is a goldenrod for all growing situations – and there indeed is – then roundleaf goldenrod is the one for partially shaded wet places. A NE Ohio native of wetlands such as the tree-lined borders of ponds and lakes, roundleaf goldenrod attains a mature height of 3 – 5’ and produces its bright yellow flowers for 4 to 6 weeks in the late summer and fall.

Photo by Michigan Flora.