Plant Goldenrods and Asters! Choose the right ones for your garden conditions at our Sept 6 plant sale!

At our 6 September 2025 sale at Pawtuxet Village Farmer’s Market,60 Rhodes Place, Cranston RI  RIWPS will bring you 6 species of goldenrod and 5 species of aster. Time to get excited about these two genera!

Why are goldenrod and aster so important?

Both are considered keystone genera because of the large numbers of moth and butterfly caterpillars that are fed by their leaves as part of specialized relationships, and because of the late season nectar and pollen provided to our insect as they prepare for migrations and winter nesting.

They are also beautiful, especially together, as they bloom when others fade.

Don’t be afraid of goldenrod and aster.

Goldenrod is not the cause of fall allergies (that is ragweed) and all of the species brought to the sale are garden friendly. For an added ecological benefit, leave seed heads standing to feed birds over the winter.

Start with plugs

Most of these species will be sold in plug form and are grown from ReSeeding Rhode Island or Northeast Seed Collective seed decsended from plants in our ecoregion 59.  We can offer these plugs at a low price of $4.00 each because we are not spending money on soil and plastic pots – your money goes toward a well rooted plant that is ready for the ground. Planting plugs makes it easier to fill spaces and create mass plantings.

But what species do you choose?

If you are trying to create a “living green mulch or soft landing” area under some trees or shrubs, consider Solidago bicolor (white goldenrod), Solidago caesia (blue-stemmed goldenrod), Eurybia divericata (white wood aster) and Eurybia macrophylla (large leaved wood aster). All of these species are on the short side, do well in the shade or part sun and can handle dry to average soils. Symphyotrichum undulatum (wavy leaf aster), prefers a little more sun and dry rocky conditions but is also on the shorter side. All of these plants look beautiful in a mass which can be created with plugs and a little patience.

Our other goldenrod and aster offerings prefer more sun. If you need a tough goldenrod that can handle sandy, well drained, poor soils and even salt, try Solidago puberula (downy goldenrod). Consider Solidago nemoralis (grey goldenrod), if you need a short goldenrod that can handle dry conditions. Solidago odora (licorice-scented goldenrod) really does smell like licorice and at 3 to 4 feet is a beautiful, well behaved garden plant. Solidago speciosa (showy goldenrod) is truly showy for a dry meadow planting with its straight flower spikes. Symphyotrichum laeve (smooth aster) likes it drier while the tall Symphyotrichum novae-angliae (NewEngland aster) prefers average to moist soils.

Berry containers will be provided to transport plugs – easy for you and easy on the earth!

We hope this helps with your shopping list and encourages you to plant our top two keystone herbaceous species. Volunteers and informational signs will provide extra support at the sale!

See you on September 6!