Of 300 seeds planted in a central Iowa demographic study, 17 (5.6%) germinated and 1 plant survivied to year 5; none flowered; however, experimental seed addition in a small field study resulted in establishment of elm-leaved goldenrod seedlings in 46-71% of plots after three years (Brudvig et al. 2011).

Transplants in a field study had 100% survival after 7 years; this species self-sows (Mottl et al. 2006), suggesting that transplanting could also be a successful method of re-introduction. Once established, it has a high output of wind dispersed seed and extensive vegetative spread (Barkely 1986, Gleason and Cronquist 1991).