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Solidago canadensis
Solidago canadensis L.
Canada Goldenrod, Canadian Goldenrod, Tall Goldenrod, Giant Goldenrod
Asteraceae (Aster Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: SOCA6
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), CAN (N)
Tall, leafy, finely hairy stem has tiny yellow flower heads on arching branches in a long or flat-topped cluster at top.
This handsome species produces showy displays, usually late in the summer. Although it and other Goldenrods are commonly blamed for hay fever, this discomfort is usually caused by pollen from Ragweed (Ambrosia spp.), which are less conspicuous plants with greenish flowers that bloom at the same time. Missouri Goldenrod (Solidago missouriensis) is similar but usually smaller, with smooth stems.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Herb
Size Notes: Up to about 6 feet tall.
Leaf: Green
Fruit: Fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae). Though technically incorrect, the fruit is often referred to as an achene.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: YellowBloom Time: Aug , Sep , Oct , Nov
Distribution
USA: AK , AL , AR , AZ , CA , CO , CT , DE , FL , GA , 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 , WYCanada: AB , BC , MB , NB , NL , NS , NT , ON , PE , QC , SK
Native Distribution: Across Canada and throughout the United States.
Native Habitat: Prairie, Plains, Meadows, Pastures, Savannas, Stream banks
Growing Conditions
Water Use: MediumLight Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry , Moist
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
Drought Tolerance: High
Soil Description: Caliche type, Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay.
Benefit
Use Ornamental: Showy, Wildflower meadow, Blooms ornamentalUse Wildlife: Nectar-Bees, Nectar-Butterflies
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Birds
Value to Beneficial Insects
Special Value to Native BeesSpecial Value to Honey Bees
Supports Conservation Biological Control
This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.
Propagation
Propagation Material: SeedsFind Seed or Plants
Order seed of this species from Native American Seed and help support the Wildflower Center.
Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.
View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.
Mr. Smarty Plants says
Native plants for seasonal poor drainage
May 16, 2006
I have an area in my front yard that has a drainage ditch running through it. When it rains, that area stays very wet. What kind of plants available for sale will work in this situation?
view the full question and answer
National Wetland Indicator Status
Region: | AGCP | AK | AW | CB | EMP | GP | HI | MW | NCNE | WMVE |
Status: | FACU | FACU | FACU | FACU | FACU | FACU |
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Austin, TX
NPSOT - Fredericksburg Chapter - Fredericksburg, TX
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR
NPSOT - Williamson County Chapter - Georgetown, TX
Bibliography
Bibref 355 - Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest (1991) Miller, G. O.Bibref 291 - Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender
Bibref 328 - Wildflowers of Texas (2003) Ajilvsgi, Geyata.
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Web Reference
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
Research Literature
Reslit 188 - Evidence of tissue-specific allelopathic activity in Euthamia graminifolia and Solidago canadensis (Asteraceae) (2002) V. M. Butcko and R. J. JensenReslit 186 - Goldenrod: Plants with multipurpose potential (2002) R. L. Burrows
Reslit 102 - Age of maturity and life span in herbaceous, polycarpic perennials (2000) M. H. Bender, J. M. Baskin and C. C. Baskin
Reslit 127 - Observations on late season pollination of Solidago canadensis L.(Asteraceae) in southwest Ohio (1981) W. H. Blackwell and M. J. Powell
Reslit 520 - Response of Solidago canadensis to competition (1988) D. E. Goldberg
Reslit 454 - Phytophagous insects associated with goldenrods (Solidago spp.) in Gainesville, Florida (1994) E. M. G. Fontes, H. Habeck and F. Slansky
Reslit 362 - The relationship between soil seed bank, above-ground vegetation and disturbance intensity on old-field successional permanent plots (2009) M. Dolle and W. Schmidt
Reslit 291 - The strategies of Solidago canadensis L. in relation to urban habitats. III. Conformity to habitat dynamics. (1990) R. Cornelius
Reslit 292 - The strategies of Solidago canadensis L. in relation to urban habitats. I. Resource requirements. (1990) R. Cornelius
Reslit 293 - The strategies of Solidago canadensis L. in relation to urban habitats. II. Competitive ability. (1990) R. Cornelius and A. Faensenthiebes
This information was provided by the Florida WIldflower Foundation.
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Additional resources
USDA: Find Solidago canadensis in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Solidago canadensis in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Solidago canadensis
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-01-16Research By: TWC Staff