October 2, 2025

Goldenrod (Solidago) produces beautiful, prolific blooms in late summer and early autumn. Its pollen is heavy, sticky, and not airborne like the green flowers of Ragweed (Ambrosia). In order to have an allergic reaction to Goldenrod you would in all probability have physical contact with it, and not simply by breathing in the pollen.

Here a Paper Wasp (Polistinae) is dining on the nectar of Goldenrod. There are over 100 species of Goldenrod that are native to North America, and they play an important role in providing nectar and pollen to pollinators late in the season when there are few flowers blooming.

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