Aaaachoo! Are you sneezing from dawn to dusk, with weepy, bloodshot eyes, stuffy nose, dull headache and scratchy throat? Instead of coming down with a late summer cold, you might be suffering from hay fever or allergies. This year’s autumn season seems worse than usual for allergy sufferers, due partly to the dust and particles floating around because of our dry weather. Bright yellow goldenrod, now blooming in all its glory, often gets the blame. Roadsides and open fields are dotted with showy yellow spikes and we’re quick to conclude that goldenrod pollen must be the reason for our misery. But goldenrod is innocent. The worst culprit is ragweed.
Found throughout Minnesota except the Arrowhead region, ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) normally grows anywhere from one to five feet tall and is found this time of year in roadside ditches, along fence lines and at the edges of our gardens and driveways. As I was driving into our lane yesterday, I slowed to a crawl, rolled down the car window, and saw patches of ragweed springing up through the gravel and clinging to the roadside edge. Unlike the flamboyant goldenrod, ragweed has small, unremarkable green flowers at the tips of each branch. These male pollen-producing flowers are the ones that cause all the trouble.
Of the 15 species of ragweed, the three we find in our area are common, western and giant. Judging by the growth habit of those by our driveway, I’d guess they are the “common” variety, an annual that reproduces from seeds with a shallow root and grayish, deeply lobed foliage.
Goldenrod has been given a bad rap. To some of us, it’s a roadside weed. To others, it’s a medicinal herb and to still others, it’s a treasured garden flower. Of the 130 goldenrod species, at least 45 are found in Minnesota alone. The gray goldenrod (solidago nemoralis) is the most common in our area, the gray referring to the gray-green stems and foliage. The genus, SOLIDAGO, is from the Latin solida meaning “whole” and ago meaning “to make”, a name given to goldenrod which has long been associated with wound healing. Native Americans used the roots to heal burns, treated fevers and snakebite with tea made from crushed flowers, and chewed roots to sooth sore throats. According to Rodale’s book on herbs, modern medicine offers no evidence that it’s an effective medicine, but neither are any serious illnesses or medical problems connected with the plant. If you have a lot of allergies though, especially to pollens, it’s wise to stay clear of it.
Goldenrod is a treasured addition to European flower gardens and is gradually becoming more popular in our country. The horticultural varieties of goldenrod are moving toward larger flower heads on shorter stems, making them terrific border plants. Since they thrive in poor soil, we should sit up and take notice! Six years ago I planted the variety ‘Fireworks,’ and am delighted with its hardiness and growth habit. Several varieties are hardy in zone 3, grow easily in sun or light shade, provide great fall color, and aren’t fussy about soil.
Goldenrod is lovely in bouquets, both as a fresh flower and in dried arrangements. Although it doesn’t dry as bright as its fresh color, it does retain a nice golden hue, and is a perfect addition to fall centerpieces and displays.
As for the ragweed villain, yank it out whenever you see it in close proximity to your yard or gardens. If possible, do this before it flowers, produces pollen and goes to seed. A good, heavy rainfall would do wonders to not only water our parched plants, but also clean the air of all these nasty, aggravating particles that cause us to reach for the Puffs. Aaaachoo!
Up-to-date information on seasonal problems can be found at blog.lib.umn.edu/efans/ygnews/. For personal help with gardening questions, call 444-7916, leaving your name, number, and question. A local master gardener will call to assist you.
