Upland white goldenrod,  Oligoneuron album
 
What looks like a delicate, elegant plant covered in daisy-like white flowers is an ecological superhero. It blooms in August and September and is ideal for the edges of borders, boulevards, rock gardens, and small spaces. The wind cannot carry goldenrod pollen and, therefore, doesn't cause hay fever; the culprit is ragweed.
 
Ecology:
Upland white goldenrod delights bees, butterflies, wasps, skippers, beetles and flies with its rich pollen and nectar and birds with caterpillars and insects in spring and its seeds all winter long. As with all goldenrods, it supports an unsurpassed number of pollen specialist bees with its rich, big, sticky pollen. One-third of Ontario's bees rely on a very specific plant or plant family to collect specific pollen to provision their nests so their future larvae can feed on it and produce the next generation. Goldenrod is also unsurpassed in providing food for the caterpillars as a host plant of over 100 moth species. This is important because they are the non-negociable food source for breeding birds. Caterpillars are the very reason birds migrate to Canada in the first place. So, make room for some goldenrod in your garden. Stiff goldenrod and upland white goldenrod are non spreading goldenrods for the sun and blue-stem goldenrod and zigzag goldenrod are ideal for shaded areas. Be careful not to plant prolific rhizomatous species like Canada goldenrod; they will take over small spaces quickly.
 
Growing conditions:
Upland white goldenrod is found in alvars, prairies, and bluffs in sandy, rocky and shallow dry to medium soils in full sun. It is ideal in boulevards, borders and rock gardens.