Early Goldenrod
Solidago juncea
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Height: 3-4 ft
Spread: 2-3 ft
Bloom Time: July-September
Sunlight: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Medium, Dry, Very Dry
​Life Cycle: Perennial

Early Goldenrod is a very early flowering Solidago species, with yellow flowers that bloom in a branching cluster. Unlike most Goldenrods, which flower in autumn, Early Goldenrod produces blooms during the summer months. Over time, this species can spread by roots to form groups. Its stems reach heights of 3 to 4 feet tall. Deer typically do not bother this species unless little else is available as a food source. Over 100 caterpillars use Goldenrod species as a host plant, some of these depending on Early Goldenrod. As well as being essential to sustain butterfly and moth populations, these caterpillars are an important part of the food chain for numerous creatures. Wildlife that feed on caterpillars include predatory insects, birds, lizards, snakes, amphibians, and even a variety of mammals such as rodents, foxes, and bear. 
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