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Western Goldenrod is one of the best flowering perennials for late season pollinators and should be included in as many landscapes as possible to support native insects and birds. It produces showy yellow plumes in the fall after most other plants have finished blooming, providing food at a critical time for many species. This includes migratory butterflies such as Monarchs that require high energy foods to complete their long distance journeys. The bright color is also gorgeous in the landscape, with yellows in particular being uncommon in fall flowering plants. The other western native plant that syncs up with Western Goldenrod is Douglas Aster which displays blue-purple daisy flowers, and when the two are planted together they look stunning. Western Goldenrod spreads quickly via rhizomes when grown in good soils so should be planted where it has the space to grow. Goldenrods are generally best in meadow-style plantings with other tall perennials that can grow together to create a mosaic of different flower styles and colors as opposed to small landscape borders. The plants can tolerate drought well once established but they bloom longer when grown on sites with regular summer moisture, and they are tolerant of wet soils along streams and ponds. We have found that Western Goldenrod interplants well with Fireweed, Douglas Aster, Maximillian Sunflower, Narrowleaf Sunflower, and Bergamot ( Monarda fistulosa ) to produce a colorful and long-blooming wildflower meadow.