Solidago canadensis 'Golden Baby'

Solidago canadensis 'Golden Baby' is a compact, hardy perennial that bears flat-topped clusters of golden-yellow plumes. Growing to around 60cm (24in) tall, the plants are great in borders or containers and provide end-of-season colour in blazing shades of gold.

Solidago are easily grown in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun. They will flourish on poorer soils, but will probably grow smaller and a little less vigorously. They are best when grown in sun, although some light shade has little effect on them.
They do not need staking, are tolerant of both heat and humidity and fight off any competition from weeds. They have few pest and disease problems, nor do they seem to suffer from the attentions of slugs and snails.

Solidago 'Golden Baby', also marketed as 'Goldkind' and 'Yellow Springs' will bloom in their first year if given an early sowing. They provide reliable colour and contrast in late summer to early autumn for the perennial border, wild garden, prairie, meadow or naturalised area.
The flowers are an important nectar source for bees and butterflies and other nectar feeders. The plants provide plenty of cut flowers and are beautiful in bouquets. They also make wonderful dried flowers. The flowers are very simple to dry and hold their colour well.

Sowing: Sow seed in cool weather in autumn or early spring.
Sow seeds very finely onto the surface of pots containing moist seed compost. 'Just cover' with a sprinkling of sieved soil (1/16th in) and maintain an optimum temperature of 10°C (50°F)
Keep moist, watering from the base of the container but do not saturate the compost. Germination is usually around 14 to 50 days, but may take a little longer.
Remove the cover once the seedlings begin to germinate to allow air to circulate, otherwise they may suffer from damping off disease. Keep in light but not strong sunlight, a warm kitchen windowsill is often sufficient.
Thin (prick out) seeds as they become large enough to handle, leaving the seed trays intact for other seedlings that may germinate later. Use 7cm (3in) pots containing well-drained compost mix. You can add 10% horticultural sand (that doesn’t contain salt) to a regular compost to achieve this.
Harden off young plants gradually for 10 to 15 days before planting out. In poor soil it is worth incorporating some organic matter before planting.
Water deeply to encourage roots to grow deeply, resulting in a healthier, more drought tolerant plant. Avoid overhead watering if possible.

Cultivation:
Goldenrods are essentially plants of the prairie or woodland edge. They do best on fertile and moist but well-drained ground, many will flourish on poorer soils, but probably growing smaller and less vigorously. All are best in sun, although some light shade has little effect on them. Too much shade and they will grow weak and floppy.
Once established, goldenrods should not need staking unless grown in very fertile conditions, in which case they can become top-heavy. They manage to fight off weed competition and have few pest and disease problems. Nor do they seem to suffer from the attentions of slugs and snails.
Solidago are long-lived and are hardy to minus 15°C (5°F). The plants do not need regular division but if needed, congested plants can be divided at any time over the winter, up until growth starts in earnest in April. Remove spent flower clusters to encourage additional bloom.

Plant Uses:
Beds and borders, Cottage/Informal, Garden edging, Wildlife, Bee and Butterfly gardens. First year flowering, Gravel, City, Containers, Low-maintenance.

Origin:
Solidago is a genus of about 100 to 120 species of flowering plants in the aster family, Asteraceae. Most are herbaceous perennial species found in open areas such as meadows, prairies, and savannas. They are mostly native to North America, and a few species are native to Mexico, South America, and Eurasia.
A number of larger species were introduced from North America in the 19th-century. Large and rather coarse, they are best kept to the wilder reaches of the garden, where they will compete effectively with grass and weeds. Thankfully, other more refined species are becoming available as interest grows and butterflies adore it. Keep an eye out for plants like these and prepare to be charmed.
The species Solidago canadensis, the is native to North America and is found in every state except the extreme southeast. 'Golden Baby' is a USA hybrid that grows to just 60cm (2ft) tall. This hybrid is not invasive, it has a dwarf clumping form, not a runnering form.
Historically Goldenrods were wrongfully accused of causing hay fever which is an allergic reaction to wind-borne pollen. The truth of the matter is the pollen of Solidago is not an allergen, it is too heavy to be carried by air currents and must move from plant to plant on the bodies of insects. The pollen from ragweed (Ambrosia artemesiifolia), which flowers at the same time is believed to be the pollen source that causes many individuals to suffer from hay fever.

Nomenclature:
The genus name Solidago derives from the Latin solido meaning ‘to make whole or heal’ and a reference to the supposed, medicinal qualities of these plants
The species name canadensis means ‘of or from Canada', it is also called the Canada Goldenrod.
Solidago are commonly called Goldenrods, occasionally they are known as Solidaster.
Solidago canadensis 'Golden Baby' is also marketed as 'Goldkind' and 'Yellow Springs'.