From “Praying with Creation: Daily Devotions for the Season of Creation from the Province One EcoRegion”
“Giant goldenrod is a perennial that can grow almost 6 feet tall! It has a central stem which then breaks off into branches, each bearing its own golden flowers, sometimes called sprays.
“These flowers bloom in late summer into early fall—August, September, and October being typical blooming months. In addition to its beauty, goldenrod is highly beneficial to the environment. Because of the large amount of nectar and pollen it produces, “it supports bees, wasps, butterflies, moths, and beetles…. it produces high-quality pollen, rich in fats and minerals, making it helpful for migratory insects such as the monarch butterfly” (Denise D’Aurora, Master Gardener, Crawford County, Penn State Extension website extension.psu.edu).
“Another benefit of goldenrod is that it can be used to “prevent soil erosion, stabilizing slopes and controlling erosion along stream banks… well-adapted to …conditions…. ranging from dry sand soils to moist clayey ones” (content.gardenforwildlife.com).
“While shining in her beauty, goldenrod is also laboring on behalf of creation to support an ecosystem where life can thrive and blossom. The botanical name of Goldenrod is solidago. Solidago is Latin for solidus, meaning “to make whole.” This reference is to “the plant’s healing and medicinal properties. Goldenrod has been used to heal wounds of the skin, and to treat inflammation of the mouth and throat as well as tuberculosis, diabetes, and arthritis”