Solidago canadensis: Uses (Ethnobotany)
It has been used in folk medicine and has anti-inflammatory properties. It has been used to treat wounds, allergies, TB, arthritis, asthma, hypertension and as a diuretic.
Plant Profile: Solidago canadensis
Taxonomy: Solidago canadensisNames
Canada Goldenrod, Canadian Goldenrod, Common Goldenrod, Goldenrod, Meadow Goldenrod,, Tall Goldenrod
Phonetic Spelling:
Genus:Solidago
Species:canadensis
Family:Asteraceae
Canada Goldenrod is a perennial plant native to the daisy family, prevalent across much of Canada and the United States, with the exception of the southernmost southeastern states. Its extensive range has led to the emergence of various varieties, resulting in differences in size, leaf shape, and flower characteristics. This plant features branching clusters of small yellow flowers that form a pyramid shape, blooming from late summer into fall. Importantly, it is not related to ragweed, which is known to trigger allergy symptoms. Goldenrods propagate through seeds and rhizomes, and some consider them to be weedy.
This plant is ideal for use in naturalized settings, meadows, pollinator gardens, and native plant gardens. It thrives in full sunlight and prefers soil that is somewhat clayey and moist, but not overly wet. Its flowers attract bees and butterflies, making it a valuable addition to any garden.
However, Canada Goldenrod can face challenges such as rust (Coleosporium asterum), powdery mildew, and leaf spot. It is also susceptible to insect pests, including aphids, beetles, and gall-forming insects.
Solidago canadensis Feature Summary
Solidago canadensis Image Gallery
Tags
#arching
#fall flowers
#wildlife plant
#yellow flowers
#weedy
#nectar plant
#NC native
#herbaceous perennial
#naturalized area
#larval host plant
#butterfly friendly
#pollinator garden
#bee friendly
#meadows
#wavy-lined emerald butterfly
Similar Plants
Solidago canadensis is often confused with:
Solidago canadensis Feature Summary
Attributes
It has been used in folk medicine and has anti-inflammatory properties. It has been used to treat wounds, allergies, TB, arthritis, asthma, hypertension and as a diuretic.
Canada, U.S.A.
AK , AL , AR , AZ , CA , CO , CT , DE , FL , GA , HI , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , MT , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NV , NY , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , UT , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV , WY Canada: AB , BC , MB , NB , NL , NS , NT , ON , PE , QC , SK
This plant supports Wavy-lined Emerald (Synchlora aerata) larvae. The pollen and nectar are attractive to many pollinators. The flowers and leaves are eaten by deer and birds will eat the seeds.
Perennial
Fruit
This brown seed is oblong-shaped with white hair attached to the tip to allow dispersal by the wind.
Achene
Brown/Copper
< 1 inch
< 1 inch
Flowers
Branching clusters of yellow flower heads at the top of the plant. Pyramidal clusters of flowers are broadly spreading and cascading, with 100 to 1300+ flowers in the cluster. Flowers are about 1/8 inch across with usually 8 to 15 petals (ray flowers) surrounding a central disc with usually 3 to 6 disc flowers. Commercially, can be used as a filler flower in floral arrangements. In the garden, it blooms in late summer to fall when other summer flowers are done blooming. Blooms from August to October.
Gold/Yellow
Panicle
Good Cut
Showy
Long-lasting
Good Dried
Summer
Fall
7 - 20 petals/rays
< 1 inch
Leaves
4-6 inches long and 1 inch wide green leaves are lanceolate to broadly linear, alternate leaves and tapered with spaced sharp teeth. The surface is smooth with possible hairs on veins underneath.
Green
Simple
Alternate
Linear
Lanceolate
Serrate
3-6 inches
Smooth
1-3 inches
Stem
Green to reddish straight stems with hairs up to 6 feet tall
Hairy (pubescent)
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Herbaceous Perennial
Native Plant
Arching
Erect
Medium
Low
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Acid (<6.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
9b
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Landscape
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Native Garden
Butterflies
Pollinators
Solidago canadensis Image Gallery
Solidago canadensis Attributes
Solidago canadensis: Country Or Region Of Origin
Canada, U.S.A.
Solidago canadensis: Distribution
AK , AL , AR , AZ , CA , CO , CT , DE , FL , GA , HI , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , MT , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NV , NY , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , UT , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV , WY Canada: AB , BC , MB , NB , NL , NS , NT , ON , PE , QC , SK
Solidago canadensis: Wildlife Value
This plant supports Wavy-lined Emerald (Synchlora aerata) larvae. The pollen and nectar are attractive to many pollinators. The flowers and leaves are eaten by deer and birds will eat the seeds.
Solidago canadensis: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Solidago canadensis Fruit
Solidago canadensis: Fruit Description
This brown seed is oblong-shaped with white hair attached to the tip to allow dispersal by the wind.
Solidago canadensis: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Solidago canadensis: Fruit Color
Brown/Copper
Solidago canadensis: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Solidago canadensis: Fruit Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Solidago canadensis: Fruit Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Solidago canadensis Flowers
Solidago canadensis: Flower Description
Branching clusters of yellow flower heads at the top of the plant. Pyramidal clusters of flowers are broadly spreading and cascading, with 100 to 1300+ flowers in the cluster. Flowers are about 1/8 inch across with usually 8 to 15 petals (ray flowers) surrounding a central disc with usually 3 to 6 disc flowers. Commercially, can be used as a filler flower in floral arrangements. In the garden, it blooms in late summer to fall when other summer flowers are done blooming. Blooms from August to October.
Solidago canadensis: Flower Color
Gold/Yellow
Solidago canadensis: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Solidago canadensis: Flower Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Solidago canadensis: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Solidago canadensis: Flower Petals
2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals
Solidago canadensis: Flower Shape
Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel
Solidago canadensis: Flower Size
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches
Solidago canadensis Leaves
Solidago canadensis: Leaf Description
4-6 inches long and 1 inch wide green leaves are lanceolate to broadly linear, alternate leaves and tapered with spaced sharp teeth. The surface is smooth with possible hairs on veins underneath.
Solidago canadensis: Leaf Color
Green
Solidago canadensis: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Solidago canadensis: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Solidago canadensis: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Solidago canadensis: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Solidago canadensis: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Solidago canadensis: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Solidago canadensis: Leaf Feel
Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy
Solidago canadensis: Leaf Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Solidago canadensis Stem
Solidago canadensis: Stem Description
Green to reddish straight stems with hairs up to 6 feet tall
Solidago canadensis: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Solidago canadensis: Stem Surface
Corky Ridges
Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
Dull
Hairy (pubescent)
Polished
Smooth (glabrous)
Solidago canadensis Whole Plant Traits
Solidago canadensis: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Solidago canadensis: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Solidago canadensis: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Solidago canadensis: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Solidago canadensis: Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Solidago canadensis Cultural Conditions
Solidago canadensis: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Solidago canadensis: Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Solidago canadensis: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Solidago canadensis: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Solidago canadensis: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
9a
9b
Solidago canadensis: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Solidago canadensis Landscape
Solidago canadensis: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Solidago canadensis: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
