Solidago pinetorum (Small's / pineywoods goldenrod)

Small's goldenrod, also called pine goldenrod or Pineywoods goldenrod, is one of the earliest flowering goldenrods of the Virginia region, with a very narrow native range that includes the Piedmont and Coastal Plain of Virginia and North Carolina, being rare elsewhere in the states. It tends to be found more often in the acidic soils of pine-oak forests or woodland edges, hence "pineywoods."

 

It can be distinguished from other goldenrods by its small 3 foot or less stature (compared to other solidago). Its clump of narrow and smooth leaves resemble common garden groundcovers like liriope, until they bloom with long arching stems tipped with brush-like panicles of bright small yellow blooms. Flowering begins as early as June and usually hits full swing in July. By fall, the seedheads tend to have a brown/buttery color compared to the snowy white fluff of other goldenrods. 

 

Goldenrod blooms support many uncommon and rare specialist bees, which only feed on the nectar and pollen of a select few flowering plants to survive. The genus is also considered a keystone plant, supporting a wide range of native insects as a larval host species.

 

Pineywoods goldenrod grows in poor and sandy soils of roadsides and hillsides, and it plays well in a wild meadow or dry prairie setting with other goldenrods, asters, native grasses, and drought tolerant wildflowers. Great for natural area restorations of the Piedmont or Coastal Plain. Also good for woodland edges and hillsides, so it can take part sun and steep typography, with its strong root system holding onto soil.

 

It has a colonizing habit, and spreads slowly by short rhizomes (3 inches or less a year) but not with aggression. Its short stature and non-aggressive nature, and tolerance for poor soil and drought conditions, would make this a great boulevard species for a natural look, chosen over other goldenrods which may need more water, or spread too densely and quickly for small plantings. This species can reseed itself as goldenrods do in areas with low competition and open ground, but is kept in check by higher plant density with such species as little bluestem, splitbeard bluestem, broomsedge, Maryland goldenaster, upland ironweed, and Appalactian ragwort.

 

A common misconception is that goldenrod pollen causes hayfever, which is untrue. The pollen of solidago is dense and pollinated by insects. Hayfever is caused by the wind-disbursed pollen of the Ambrosia (ragweed) genus.