Solidago speciosa (showy goldenrod)

This elegant goldenrod has big yellow flower heads and dark red stems. It adds great fall color to a meadow. Goldenrods are wrongly accused of being a common cause of seasonal allergies. Their pollen does not blow in the wind; on the contrary, it is sticky and transported by pollinators, which visit the plants in large numbers. Goldenrods attract a greater diversity of native bees than almost any other flowering plants. Showy goldenrod grows to 5 feet in full sun and average to dry soil. It blooms in September-October, and holds its fluffy seed heads through the winter, providing food for birds.