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Western goldenrod

Euthamia occidentalis

perennial herb View on Calscape

Care

Sun

full sun, part shade

Water

very low

Soil

Fast, Medium, Slow, Standing; Tolerant of a variety of garden soils as long as sufficient moisture is available.

Size

4–6ft tall

Bloom

Jun-Nov

Foliage

Deciduous

Flowers

Prized

Native Range

Coastal marshes and wetlands from Humboldt County to Monterey County, sea level to 500 ft elevation.

Care Guide

Planting

Plant Western Goldenrod in full sun in fall or winter, when it's most established in the Bay Area. It tolerates a wide range of soils - fast, medium, or slow draining - as long as you keep it consistently moist during the growing season. This spreading rhizomatous plant can reach 4 to 6 feet tall, so give it room to sprawl, or plan to contain it if you're worried about it taking over a bed.

After Planting

Water regularly through your first summer to keep the soil moist; this plant naturally grows in wet habitats like marshes and stream banks, so it actually needs more water than typical California natives during establishment. Once established (by year two), you can reduce watering, though it will still perform best with periodic moisture rather than bone-dry conditions. It's deciduous, so expect die-back in winter - cut back dead stems in early spring. The most common mistake is underwatering during the first year; treat it like a thirsty plant until it's settled in, not like a drought-tolerant groundcover.

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