Solidago chilensis: Uses (Ethnobotany)
Used medicinally for many ailments.
Plant Profile: Solidago chilensis
Names
Anise Goldenrod, Anise-scented Goldenrod, Fragrant Goldenrod, Goldenrod, Licorice Goldenrod, Sweet Goldenrod
Phonetic Spelling:so-li-DAY-go chill-EN-sis
Genus:Solidago
Species:chilensis
Family:Asteraceae
Sweet goldenrod is a hardy, low-maintenance perennial wildflower native to the region. Reaching heights of 2 to 3 feet, it features elegantly arching stems adorned with clusters of yellow flowers that bloom in late summer and early fall. Unlike some other goldenrod varieties, it primarily forms clumps and does not spread aggressively. This wildflower adapts well to its environment, demonstrating drought resistance and the ability to thrive in clay soils. It is an excellent choice for borders or for inclusion in butterfly, cottage, or herb gardens. Although it is often blamed for triggering hay fever due to its simultaneous blooming with certain wind-pollinated plants like ragweed, it remains a popular garden addition.
Regarding fire safety, sweet goldenrod has a medium flammability rating.
Seasons of Interest:
- Bloom: Late summer (August-September) and fall
- Fruit/Seed/Nut: Fall
In terms of pests and diseases, sweet goldenrod is generally resilient, facing no significant threats. However, it may occasionally experience issues with rust, powdery mildew, and leaf spot.
Solidago chilensis Feature Summary
Solidago chilensis Image Gallery
Tags
#fragrant
#showy flowers
#drought tolerant
#fall flowers
#perennial
#wildlife plant
#yellow flowers
#fragrant leaves
#native perennial
#nectar plant
#low maintenance
#cottage garden
#specialized bees
#herb garden
#food source
#highly beneficial coastal plants
#fire
#medium flammability
#NC native
#summer flowers
#deer resistant
#native garden
#teas
#wind dispersed seeds
#borders
#pollinator plant
#native wildflower
#wildflower garden
#larval host plant
#food source fall
#NC Native Pollinator Plant
#late summer flowers
#FACU
#food source herbage
#food source nectar
#food source pollen
#clay soils tolerant
#bird friendly
#food source hard mast fruit
#butterfly friendly
#pollinator garden
#bee friendly
#audubon
#wavy-lined emerald butterfly
Similar Plants
Solidago chilensis is often confused with:
Solidago chilensis Feature Summary
Attributes
Used medicinally for many ailments.
Eastern and southeastern United States and Canada
AL , AR , AZ , CA , CO , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , HI , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , MT , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV, Canada
This plant supports Wavy-lined Emerald (Synchlora aerata) larvae. Attractive to bees and butterflies. Members of the genus Solidago support the following specialized bees: Andrena (Callandrena s.l.) asteris, Andrena (Callandrena s.l.) braccata, Andrena (Cnemidandrena) canadensis, Andrena (Cnemidandrena) hirticincta, Andrena (Cnemidandrena) nubecula, Andrena (Callandrena s.l.) simplex, Perdita (Perdita) octomaculata, Melissodes (Eumelissodes) fumosus, Colletes simulans, and Colletes solidaginis. Songbirds eat the seeds.
It is moderately deer resistant.
Leaves may be used in teas
Perennial
Wildlife Food Source
medium flammability
Fruit
Brown, hairy tufts, cone-shape wind-dispersed. Displays from August to November.
Achene
Brown/Copper
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
Flowers
Yellow flowers bloom from July to October. Flowers appear in branched plume-like clusters that look pyramidal.
Gold/Yellow
Summer
Fall
Tubular
< 1 inch
Leaves
Fragrant leaves smell like anise. Dark green leaves up to 4" long. They are lance-shaped, sessile, parallel-veined, untoothed and marked with translucent dots.
Deciduous
Green
Simple
Alternate
Elliptical
Lanceolate
Entire
3-6 inches
Smooth
Fragrant
< 1 inch
Stem
Smooth or downy stems.
Green
Hairy (pubescent)
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Edible
Native Plant
Wildflower
Herb
Deciduous
Clumping
Medium
Low
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasionally Dry
3 feet-6 feet
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
9b
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Landscape
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Cottage Garden
Native Garden
Drought
Deer
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Butterflies
Pollinators
Songbirds
Bees
Specialized Bees
Solidago chilensis Image Gallery
Solidago chilensis Attributes
Solidago chilensis: Country Or Region Of Origin
Eastern and southeastern United States and Canada
Solidago chilensis: Distribution
AL , AR , AZ , CA , CO , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , HI , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , MT , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV, Canada
Solidago chilensis: Wildlife Value
This plant supports Wavy-lined Emerald (Synchlora aerata) larvae. Attractive to bees and butterflies. Members of the genus Solidago support the following specialized bees: Andrena (Callandrena s.l.) asteris, Andrena (Callandrena s.l.) braccata, Andrena (Cnemidandrena) canadensis, Andrena (Cnemidandrena) hirticincta, Andrena (Cnemidandrena) nubecula, Andrena (Callandrena s.l.) simplex, Perdita (Perdita) octomaculata, Melissodes (Eumelissodes) fumosus, Colletes simulans, and Colletes solidaginis. Songbirds eat the seeds.
Solidago chilensis: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)
It is moderately deer resistant.
Solidago chilensis: Edibility
Leaves may be used in teas
Solidago chilensis: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Solidago chilensis: Recommended Propagation Strategy
Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting
Solidago chilensis: Play Value
Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer
Solidago chilensis: Fire Risk Rating
extreme flammability
high flammability
low flammability
medium flammability
Solidago chilensis Fruit
Solidago chilensis: Fruit Description
Brown, hairy tufts, cone-shape wind-dispersed. Displays from August to November.
Solidago chilensis: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Solidago chilensis: Fruit Color
Brown/Copper
Solidago chilensis: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Solidago chilensis: Fruit Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Solidago chilensis: Fruit Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Solidago chilensis Flowers
Solidago chilensis: Flower Description
Yellow flowers bloom from July to October. Flowers appear in branched plume-like clusters that look pyramidal.
Solidago chilensis: Flower Color
Gold/Yellow
Solidago chilensis: Flower Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Solidago chilensis: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Solidago chilensis: Flower Shape
Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel
Solidago chilensis: Flower Size
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches
Solidago chilensis Leaves
Solidago chilensis: Leaf Description
Fragrant leaves smell like anise. Dark green leaves up to 4" long. They are lance-shaped, sessile, parallel-veined, untoothed and marked with translucent dots.
Solidago chilensis: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Solidago chilensis: Leaf Color
Green
Solidago chilensis: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Solidago chilensis: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Solidago chilensis: 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 chilensis: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Solidago chilensis: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Solidago chilensis: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Solidago chilensis: Leaf Feel
Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy
Solidago chilensis: Leaf Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy
Solidago chilensis: Leaf Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Solidago chilensis Stem
Solidago chilensis: Stem Description
Smooth or downy stems.
Solidago chilensis: Stem Color
Green
Solidago chilensis: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Solidago chilensis: Stem Surface
Corky Ridges
Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
Dull
Hairy (pubescent)
Polished
Smooth (glabrous)
Solidago chilensis Whole Plant Traits
Solidago chilensis: 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 chilensis: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Solidago chilensis: 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 chilensis: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Solidago chilensis: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Solidago chilensis: Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Solidago chilensis Cultural Conditions
Solidago chilensis: 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 chilensis: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Solidago chilensis: Available Space To Plant
12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet
Solidago chilensis: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Solidago chilensis: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
4a
4b
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
9a
9b
Solidago chilensis: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Solidago chilensis Landscape
Solidago chilensis: 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 chilensis: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Solidago chilensis: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Solidago chilensis: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
