Goldenrod, a member of Asteraceae, blooms in late summer through early fall and is often found in dry open areas and along roadsides.

While often dismissed as a simple weed, this showy native North American perennial, genus Solidago, has a lot to offer.

Goldenrod, as its name suggests, has showy gold-colored flowers. Its leaves have smooth margins.

Goldenrod is often blamed for seasonal allergies. However, its pollen grains are large, sticky and dense. They are too heavy to be carried by wind and are carried by insects.

Goldenrod is quite different from ragweed, which blooms at the same time. Ragweed is wind-pollinated, and one plant may produce one billion grains of pollen. The lightweight ragweed pollen may remain airborne for several days and can wreak havoc with seasonal allergy sufferers.

Goldenrod produces high-quality pollen, rich in protein, fats and minerals, and is critical for migratory insects such as the monarch butterfly.

Ragweed has green flowers and lobed leaves. It does not offer nectar and relies on the wind to disperse its lightweight pollen from plant to plant.

Ragweed produces massive amounts of tiny, breathable pollen that can blow for miles. A single ragweed plant can produce more than one billion pollen grains. It’s here we find the culprit of our sneezes. Ragweed can be a cause of seasonal allergies.

Goldenrod is an important source of nectar and pollen. The pollen on goldenrod is large and heavy and does not fall from the plant and requires the help of pollinators to survive.

With more than 120 species and numerous cultivars of goldenrod, it is easy to find the right plant for your space. Goldenrod can spread aggressively, but some ornamental varieties don’t spread as quickly.

There is a wide range of sizes, as some grow more than six feet, like tall goldenrod, and some only around two feet, like blue-stemmed goldenrod (Solidago caesia).

Supporting so much life, goldenrod could be a great addition to your garden and worth more than its weight in gold.

A prolific nectar and pollen producer, goldenrod supports bees, wasps, butterflies, moths and beetles. Eleven species of native bees are specialists in goldenrod and seek this specifically for their diet. It is also the host plant for several butterfly and moth larvae.

So, don’t blame goldenrod for allergy discomforts. Instead, admire its beauty and benefit to our pollinators.

When to divide perennials:

Don’t wait until the plant is going downhill. Divide it while it still looks good.

Divide the perennial when it is not in bloom, so it can focus its energy on root and leaf growth.

Spring and autumn are the recommended times, as those are the seasons when plants tend to establish new roots.

Some gardeners advocate dividing spring-bloomers in fall and all other flowering plants in spring.

When we have a spring that is late and short, it is preferable to dig and divide in September, allowing four to six weeks for the plant to become established before the ground freezes.

This also gives more time for the transplants to develop new root systems before the summer heat. It is not a good idea to divide your plants during the heat of summer.

The exception is bearded iris that goes dormant in summer, making August the best time for division. The general rule of thumb to divide your plants is to complete this task every three years, but only divide a plant after careful observation of its shape and condition, remembering the saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

With a little planning, you can stagger your perennial divisions over several years to avoid becoming overwhelmed.

Burnside Plantation “Apple Days”:

Penn State Master Gardeners will answer your gardening questions at “Apple Days,” 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sept, 16, 17, Burnside Plantation, 1461 Schoenersville Road, Bethlehem.

“Growing Green” is contributed by Diane Dorn, Lehigh County Extension Office Staff, and Master Gardeners. Information: Lehigh County Extension Office, 610-391-9840; Northampton County Extension Office, 610-813-6613.