A generous, misunderstood perennial.
Late February does little to exhibit the glory of this wild golden perennial, but even now the intrinsic structural beauty is visible. I imagine glittering tentacles of bursting fireworks in the arching stems with feathery clusters of tiny florets at the ends.
In the language of flowers, Solidago Canadensis symbolizes good fortune, sincerity and encouragement. In the language of humans, the plant is called goldenrod and often mistakenly blamed for causing hay fever. Actually wind-pollinated plants, notably ragweed, are the culprits. Goldenrod’s pollen is too large, heavy and sticky to become airborne.
"...they bend as though it was natural and godly to bend, they rise in a stiff sweetness, in the pure peace of giving one's gold away."
Mary Oliver
Solidago’s unassuming winter profile only hints of the generosity it offers the world. Birds love it, bees and butterflies mass to it, the leaves and flowers are good for tea, topping off salads, healing wounds, reducing inflammation, soothing pain, even delaying premature skin ageing.
The stiff stems of goldenrod were once used as divining rods to locate not only water but, according to legend, deposits of silver and gold. Plant one by your doorstep and it will bring you good fortune.
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