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Goldenrod Wikimedia Commons
Asteraceae

Goldenrod

Solidago

Encouragement, growth, good fortune.

Family
Asteraceae
Genus
Solidago
Native to
North America, Eurasia
Bloom season
Late Summer, Fall
Type
herbaceous perennial
Height
30–250 cm
Sunlight
Full sun
Soil
Well-drained, average to lean
Water
Low to moderate
Hardiness
3–9
Lifespan
Perennial

Did you know

  • Goldenrod is unfairly blamed for hay fever — its pollen is too heavy and sticky to be wind-borne. The real culprit is ragweed, which blooms at the same time.
  • Goldenrod is the state flower of Kentucky and Nebraska, and the state wildflower of South Carolina.
  • Thomas Edison spent years trying to develop goldenrod as a domestic source of natural rubber, eventually succeeding (in part) just before his death.
  • Native Americans used goldenrod for sore throats and as an antiseptic for wounds — the genus name 'Solidago' means 'to make whole.'
  • Goldenrod is one of the most important late-season nectar plants for migrating monarch butterflies and native bees.

Uses

  • Ornamental
  • Pollinator gardens
  • Traditional medicine
  • Natural dye
  • Tea