I love all kinds of goldenrod; the kinds that grows along the roadside, or the cultivars you buy in the garden center, but this one is one of the best garden residents. Its canary yellow blooms brighten any border and add a fine texture that contrasts well with most other plants. The green tinted buds of the flowers that appear in summer are favorite additions to flower arrangements but the open yellow flowering stems are also beautiful and can be used alone in a vase for a lovely summer or autumn bouquet. ‘Peter Pan’ is easy to grow and is relatively small in stature so can be easily fit in to many borders where it will provide a big splash of color that complements other late blooming plants. None of the goldenrods cause hay fever they just bloom at the same time the less conspicuous ragweed does and so are falsely accused of being the cause.
Type: Herbaceous perennial.
Bloom: Small canary yellow flowers are born in dense pyramidal clusters in late summer into fall.
Size: 2-3’ h x 18’ W.
Light: Full sun or light shade.
Soil: Average, loose, humusy, well-drained soil. Needs moisture during the growing season for best bloom.
Hardiness: Zones 4-9.
Pests and Diseases: Mildew may appear but will probably not cause severe problems.
Propagation: Take basal shoots or divide in spring. Stem cuttings may be taken in summer.
Companion plants: Aster novae-angliae ‘Purple Dome’, fall blooming mums, hardy ageratum (Eupatorium caelestinum)
Comment: Attracts bees, butterflies, and some beneficial insects.
Karen Meyers