I am a big fan of goldenrod for many reasons. First the goldenrods in general seem to hold up well after hard rains that often occur in the fall. Secondly, they are very versatile as a group as far a soil is concerned. With that said, there are specific species that grow better on some sites than others. Thirdly, they produce pollen and nectar for a wide variety of insects including bees, butterflies, moths, beetles and flies. Lastly, for me, they are the perfect fall color, especially with Asters.  You must be careful which goldenrod you choose for your garden, some are quite invasive. Stiff Goldenrod is not one of them. It is an outstanding plant for hot dry to moist sunny gardens and will tolerate some shade.

Stiff Goldenrod has light green foliage that is covered with many hairs giving the leaves a felt-like appearance.  The plant develops large basal leaves its first year. As the plant grows the leaves become smaller as they go up the stem. The leaves are very stiff, hence the common name. The spike of flowers radiates out from the stem, but not too far, making it a great cut flower. Stiff Goldenrod can grow to 3 to 4 feet or a little taller, depending on the site. Mammals, including deer, have been known to nibble the foliage when young.

Good companions for stiff goldenrod include asters, Indian grass, Joe Pye weed and oxe eye sunflower. When designing a pollinator garden this is definitely a plant you should consider putting into the garden. It is a real work horse.