Feature Flower for August - Solidago, no it's not a weed

Solidago

With allergy season upon us many people are suffering from the dreaded hay fever caused by Ragweed, including some members in my own family. Ragweed deserves the bad rap it has but a close relative does not, Solidgo. Solidago, used in floral design, is often unfairly blamed for causing hay fever. Solidago is not wind pollinated like Ragweed and will only causes allergic reactions when handled.

Common Name:  Goldenrod
Botanical Name:  Solidago (so-li-DAY-go)

Providing a soft texture and a punch of bright yellow color, Solidago consists of closely packed clusters of very small flowers spreading like a feather on 20-30" branching stem. Also know as Goldenrod, Solidago is available all year and can be dried. If you can get past its weedy cousin, Solidago can be a lovely addition to any floral design. Meaning precaution, encouragement, and good fortune, this filler is very stunning.


Interesting Fact: Thomas Edison experimented with goldenrod to produce rubber, which it contains naturally. Edison created a fertilization and cultivation process to maximize the rubber content in each plant. His experiments produced a 12-foot-tall plant that yielded as much as 12 percent rubber. The tires on the Model T given to him by his friend Henry Ford were made from goldenrod.


Below is a great video to help you tell the difference between Solidago and Ragweed.

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