Letter from Celia Oxley

Allergies? Don’t Blame Goldenrod

Think that the yellow flowers that blossom in abundance this time of year are responsible for your allergy symptoms? Think again. Goldenrod is often misidentified as ragweed. Although both are members of the aster family of plants, they are vastly different.

Goldenrod has yellow flowers that splay out somewhat at the top of their stems. Goldenrod is important to pollinating insects by providing essential nectar. The pollen from goldenrod largely stays put in the flowers, except from the pollen that pollinators pick up on their bodies as they feast on the nectar.

The pollen of ragweed, on the other hand, is easily spread by the wind for miles. Ragweed has no nectar. Ragweed has greenish flowers that propagate along the entire stem. No splaying. Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Center has a brief but excellent explanation of the difference between the two plants with pictures.

You could make a case for ragweed being the culprit for your autumn allergy symptoms, but not goldenrod. You could also indict tree pollen; abundant this time of year and also spread by the wind.

Next time you encounter vistas of yellow goldenrod, appreciate its contribution to the ever important lives of our local pollinators.

Celia Oxley
Cooperstown