• Photo of Solidago rugosa (Solidago rugosas)

Plant Profile: Solidago rugosa

Taxonomy: Solidago rugosa

Names

Goldenrod, Rough Goldenrod, Rough-leaf Goldenrod, Rough-stemmed Goldenrod, Wrinkled Goldenrod, Wrinkle-leaf Goldenrod, Wrinkleleaf Goldenrod

  • Photo of Solidago rugosa (Solidago rugosas)

Phonetic Spelling:so-li-DAY-go roo-GO-suh

Genus:Solidago

Species:rugosa

Family:Asteraceae

This native plant is a compact, clump-forming perennial that typically reaches heights of 2 to 5 feet, showcasing clusters of light yellow flowers at the tips of its stems. It blooms in September and features numerous small, serrated leaves with a rough, wrinkled texture. This species is an excellent choice for adding late-season color to gardens and attracting butterflies, as well as being appealing to birds and both native and honey bees.

Recently, goldenrods have been mistakenly associated with hay fever; however, the symptoms are actually triggered by ragweed (Ambrosia species), which releases its pollen during the same period that goldenrod flowers.

Rough-Leaf Goldenrod is a herbaceous perennial that can grow up to 4 feet tall. Its upright stems are adorned with coarse leaves at the base, and it produces arching spikes of yellow flowers in late summer and early fall.

Fire Risk: This plant has a medium flammability rating.

Seasons of Interest:

     Bloom: Fall;  Fruit/Seed/Nut: Fall

This plant may be mistaken for other species of goldenrod, specifically those in the Solidago genus.

Solidago rugosa Feature Summary

Solidago rugosa Image Gallery

Tags

#showy flowers
#fall flowers
#wildlife plant
#yellow flowers
#native perennial
#honey bees
#native bees
#fall interest
#specialized bees
#herb garden
#food source
#fire
#medium flammability
#NC native
#deer resistant
#goldenrod
#native garden
#pollinator plant
#wildflower garden
#larval host plant
#food source fall
#NC Native Pollinator Plant
#food source herbage
#food source nectar
#food source pollen
#coastal FAC
#Piedmont Mountains FAC
#bird friendly
#food source hard mast fruit
#butterfly friendly
#pollinator garden
#bee friendly
#audubon
#wavy-lined emerald butterfly
#stormwater demo garden orange co

Similar Plants

Solidago rugosa is often confused with:

Solidago rugosa Feature Summary

Attributes
Eastern Canada to U.S.A
This plant supports Wavy-lined Emerald (Synchlora aerata) larvae. Flowers are attractive to butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. Songbirds eat the seeds. 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.
Rough-Leaf Goldenrod is moderately deer resistant.
Perennial
Wildlife Food Source
medium flammability
Fruit
Displays from September to November.
Flowers
Arching spires of yellow flowers appear from August to October.
Gold/Yellow
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Native Plant
Wildflower
Herb
Clumping
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
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
Landscape
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Native Garden
Butterflies
Pollinators
Songbirds
Specialized Bees

Solidago rugosa Attributes

Solidago rugosa: Country Or Region Of Origin

Eastern Canada to U.S.A

Solidago rugosa: Wildlife Value

This plant supports Wavy-lined Emerald (Synchlora aerata) larvae. Flowers are attractive to butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. Songbirds eat the seeds. 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.

Solidago rugosa: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)

Rough-Leaf Goldenrod is moderately deer resistant.

Solidago rugosa: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Solidago rugosa: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Solidago rugosa: 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 rugosa: Fire Risk Rating

extreme flammability
high flammability
low flammability
medium flammability

Solidago rugosa Fruit

Solidago rugosa: Fruit Description

Displays from September to November.

Solidago rugosa: Display/Harvest Time

Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter

Solidago rugosa Flowers

Solidago rugosa: Flower Description

Arching spires of yellow flowers appear from August to October.

Solidago rugosa: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Gold/Yellow

Solidago rugosa: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Solidago rugosa: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Solidago rugosa: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Solidago rugosa Whole Plant Traits

Solidago rugosa: 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 rugosa: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Solidago rugosa: 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 rugosa: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Solidago rugosa Cultural Conditions

Solidago rugosa: 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 rugosa: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Solidago rugosa: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Solidago rugosa: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
4a
thermostat
4b
thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b

Solidago rugosa Leaves

Solidago rugosa: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Solidago rugosa: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Solidago rugosa: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Solidago rugosa Stem

Solidago rugosa: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Solidago rugosa Landscape

Solidago rugosa: 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 rugosa: 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 rugosa: Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees