Solidago 'Fireworks'

Solidago rugosa 'Fireworks': Arching Gold, Wild Elegance

True to its name, Solidago 'Fireworks' bursts into bloom with cascading sprays of golden-yellow flowers that radiate outward like sparks in late summer. Its graceful, arching stems add motion and fine texture to the garden, while its compact, upright habit ensures it blends easily into both naturalistic and formal designs. A magnet for late-season pollinators, this goldenrod provides a dazzling show when many perennials are beginning to fade—without the invasiveness of some wild types.

Plant Characteristics:

• Height: 90–120 cm
• Spread: 75–90 cm
• Flower Colour: Golden yellow
• Flowering Period: Late summer to early fall
• Foliage: Deep green, lance-shaped, with a rough texture
• Sunlight Requirements: Full sun to part sun
• Soil Requirements: Moist, well-drained to average soils

Uses and Benefits: 'Fireworks' is a vibrant addition to late-season borders, meadow plantings, and pollinator gardens, offering colour, texture, and ecological value. Its airy bloom form provides contrast to bold shapes and grasses, and it partners beautifully with fall-blooming companions. A dependable performer, it resists deer and tolerates a wide range of soil types, including clay.

Companion Plants: Pair Solidago 'Fireworks' with the smoky stems and blue-green foliage of Amsonia 'Storm Cloud', the vertical strength and golden fall tones of Panicum 'Northwind', and the soft lavender daisy blooms of Aster 'Wood's Light Blue' for a dynamic, pollinator-rich planting that glows from summer into fall.

Care Instructions: Plant in full to part sun with well-drained or moisture-retentive soil. Water to establish, then only during drought. No deadheading is necessary—leave seedheads standing for fall and winter interest. Cut back in early spring as new growth emerges. Clumps may be divided every few years if desired.

History: A cultivar of the North American native Solidago rugosa, 'Fireworks' was introduced by the North Carolina Botanical Garden for its controlled habit and dramatic, arching bloom form. It remains one of the most widely grown ornamental goldenrods in modern perennial design.

Final Thoughts: With its golden arcs and pollinator power, Solidago 'Fireworks' brings late-season excitement and ecological value to the garden—proof that fall colour can be both wild and refined.