Asters and Goldenrods in a Home Garden? You Bet!

Posted by Terri Litchfield on September 14, 2023September 15, 2023

Asters and goldenrods are major actors at this time of the year in the native plant garden because of their high value as late season nectar sources for pollinators and migrating butterflies. Goldenrods are represented in three genera, listed here with the number of Ohio native species in each: Solidago (25), Euthamia (2), and Oligoneuron (4). Taxonomically, some of these plants, such as Oligoneuron rigidum (Stiff Goldenrod), have volleyed between these genera multiple times over the years. The Herb Society of America has a great resource on goldenrods, “Essential Guide to Solidago, Notable Native Herb™ 2017: An HSA Native Herb Selection.” Another very good resource is Goldenrods of Northeast Ohio: A Field Guide to Identification and Natural History.

Likewise, asters fall into multiple genera including Aster, Eurybia, Ionactis, Oclemena, Sericocarpus, and Symphyotrichum. According to the USDA PLANTS Database, there are 36 Ohio native species whose common names include “aster.” One of the most recognizable is New England Aster, Symphyotrichum novae-angliae.

Both goldenrods and asters support over one hundred species of lepidoptera, and are host plants for a number of bee specialists. See Pollen Specialist Bees of the Eastern United States and scroll down to see the large number of times the goldenrod and aster genus names listed above appear. And check out this ODNR Publication to learn more about native plants which support butterflies.

We have added to our aster and goldenrod collection since our 2021 garden tour which highlighted 19 species in our landscape as shown below. Schedule a visit to see these fantastic fall bloomers and the pollinators they attract! Later posts will include more on these valuable plants.