Getting it to bloom
Why won't my Gray Goldenrod bloom? (and how to make it flower)
Also called gray goldenrod, dyersweed goldenrod, field goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis).
More about gray goldenrod
About Gray Goldenrod
Solidago nemoralis · also called gray goldenrod, dyersweed goldenrod · flowering
Gray goldenrod is a compact, drought-loving native perennial with soft grey-green foliage and gracefully arching, one-sided plumes of golden flowers in late summer and autumn. Tough enough for poor, dry, sandy soil, it stays smaller and tidier than most goldenrods, making an excellent pollinator plant for lean borders, rock gardens, and naturalised meadows.
Plant type: flowering
Watch for — Mistaken for an allergen: Wrongly blamed for hay fever; its sticky pollen is insect-carried, not airborne. Ragweed blooming nearby is the real allergy cause.
The reasons gray goldenrod isn't blooming
Almost every non-blooming gray goldenrod traces back to one of these, roughly in order of how common they are:
- Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
- Too much nitrogen feed, driving lush foliage at the expense of flowers (very common with general or lawn feeds).
- The plant has not been deadheaded, so it stops flowering once it sets seed.
- Irregular watering — drought or waterlogging at the budding stage makes buds abort.
- It is still too young or was checked by a transplant and is rebuilding before flowering.
Feeding gray goldenrod a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
The fix — how to get gray goldenrod to flower
- Maximise sun. Give gray goldenrod the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers.
- Switch the feed. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
- Deadhead regularly. Remove spent flowers often to keep it producing more rather than stopping to set seed.
- Water consistently. Keep moisture even through budding and flowering — drought-then-flood swings make buds drop.
Light and feeding do most of the heavy lifting here. Dial in the spot with the light guide for gray goldenrod and get the feeding right with the gray goldenrod fertilising schedule — the wrong feed (too much nitrogen) is one of the most common silent reasons a healthy plant makes leaves instead of flowers.
Bloom season and what to expect
Gray Goldenrod flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.
Post-bloom care so it flowers again
Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.
For everything else this plant needs day to day, see the full gray goldenrod care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.
Gray Goldenrod blooming — frequently asked questions
Why won't my gray goldenrod flower?
Gray Goldenrod blooms on the season's growth given enough sun, warmth and the right feed — there is no cold or photoperiod trick, just good growing conditions and a bloom-leaning feed. The most common reason it is not happening: Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
How do I make gray goldenrod bloom?
Give gray goldenrod the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
When does gray goldenrod normally bloom?
Gray Goldenrod flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.
What should I do with gray goldenrod after it flowers?
Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.
What is the single biggest mistake stopping gray goldenrod flowering?
Feeding gray goldenrod a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
Keep reading
- Gray Goldenrod care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- Gray Goldenrod light needs — usually the first thing to fix for flowers
- Gray Goldenrod fertilising — the right feed for buds, not just leaves
- Should I water my plant? The simple check
- Why is my plant wilting? Wet vs dry
- Underwatered plant — signs and rehydration
- Why won't my peace lily bloom?
- Why won't my jade plant bloom?
- Why won't my tomato bloom?
- All 2023 bloom guides in the Growli library