Solidago rugosa 'Fireworks'

Goldenrods grow throughout and to the east of the Rockies. Europe embraced these plants in the horticultural sense before America; however, they are rather invasive in Germany and have outcompeted several native species.These flowers have been named as state flowers by a couple of states (Nebraska and Kentucky). South Carolina named the Goldenrod as the state wildflower and Delaware claims Goldenrod to be the state herb.Thomas A. Edison experimented with Goldenrods to increase their production of latex to produce rubber for tires on Henry Ford's vehicles. The resulting rubber was very stable and long-lasting and some of Edison's Goldenrod rubber tires persist to this day.Those who suffer from hay fever come springtime should be happy to know that, although Goldenrods have been given a bad name of causing allergies, they do not. Ragweeds (Ambrosia species) on the other hand are primarily responsible for causing hay fever and just so happen to flower simultaneously as most Goldenrods.