Solidago – Introduced into the Middle East By Saladin
Solidago, better known as goldenrod, is a group of about 100 to 120 species of yellow-flowered plants in the daisy family. Most goldenrods are native to North America, where they light up meadows, prairies and roadsides in late summer and fall, but a few species grow wild in Mexico, South America, Europe and Asia.
Scientific Classification & Quick Facts
| Common name | Goldenrod |
| Scientific name | Solidago |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Phylum | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Order | Asterales |
| Family | Asteraceae |
| Type | Perennial herb in the aster family |
| Habitat | Meadows, pastures, roadsides and wasteland |
| Native range | Mostly North America; some in Mexico, Eurasia |
| Colours | Yellow to golden flower pyramids |
| Flowering season | July to October |
| Height | 0.5–3.4 m |
| Special feature | Spreads fast by underground rhizomes |
Goldenrod in History
Goldenrod has a long history as a folk remedy, and its scientific name comes from a Latin word meaning “to make whole.” One colorful old story claims that the famous sultan Saladin, who rose to rule Egypt and Syria and fought against Richard the Lionheart in the Third Crusade, helped make goldenrod known as a medicine in the Middle East. Like many legends, it is hard to prove, but it shows how widely the plant was valued.
Some American goldenrods were carried to Europe and Asia as garden plants. In a few places, especially parts of Europe and China, they have escaped and spread so successfully that they are now considered invasive weeds.
What Goldenrod Looks Like
Goldenrods are perennial herbs that grow in clumps and spread underground with creeping stems called rhizomes. One clump can send up many upright, leafy stems.
- Height: it depends on the species. Small types stay under 30 cm (1 foot), while big ones can reach about 2 m (6 feet) or more.
- Leaves: long, narrow and pointed, like a lance, often with toothed edges and fine hairs. They grow one at a time along the stem and get smaller toward the top.
- Flowers: hundreds of tiny golden-yellow flower heads, each only a few millimeters across. In many species they are packed along arching branches that form a feathery plume or pyramid at the top of the stem.
- Seeds: small, dry fruits topped with a tuft of fine bristles that helps them drift on the wind.
Does Goldenrod Cause Hay Fever?
This is one of the biggest plant myths around. Goldenrod blooms at the same time as ragweed, and its bright flowers get noticed while ragweed’s green flowers do not. But goldenrod pollen is heavy and sticky. It is carried by insects, not by the wind, so very little of it ends up in the air. Ragweed is the real hay fever culprit.
In fact, goldenrod is a superstar for wildlife. It is one of the most important late-season food sources for bees, butterflies (including migrating monarchs), wasps and beetles.
How to Grow Goldenrod
Photo by: Justus Nussbaum
Preparing to Plant
Wild goldenrods spread fast, which can make them a handful in a small garden. To keep them under control you can plant them in a large bottomless pot sunk into the ground, pull out extra shoots each year, or choose one of the well-behaved, clump-forming garden varieties sold by nurseries. Cutting off the flower heads before the seeds ripen stops them from spreading by seed.
Planting
Goldenrods are naturally plants of prairies, meadows and woodland edges. Set young plants about 30 to 60 cm (1 to 2 feet) apart, depending on how big the variety grows. They like full sun, though light shade is fine. In too much shade the stems become weak and floppy.
Placement and Watering
Goldenrod is not fussy about soil and grows well in average, well-drained ground. You often see it thriving along roadsides, field edges and ditches. Water new plants regularly until they settle in, soaking the soil and then letting it dry a little before watering again. Established plants handle dry spells well.
Flowering Period
Most goldenrods bloom from late summer into fall, roughly July to October. The flowers are pollinated by insects carrying pollen from plant to plant, which is another reason they rarely bother allergy sufferers.
After-Bloom Care
Goldenrod needs very little care. Skip the fertilizer, because rich soil makes the plants grow too tall with weak stems. Snip off faded flowers if you do not want seedlings popping up everywhere.
In fall you can cut the stems down to the ground, or leave them standing over winter for birds and overwintering insects and tidy up in spring. Every few years, use a sharp, clean spade to divide large clumps in spring.
As Cut Flowers
Goldenrod makes a cheerful, loose bouquet in late summer and early fall. Cut the stems with sharp scissors when about half the flowers have opened. It is also excellent for drying: tie small bunches together and hang them upside down indoors in a dry, airy place until they are crisp.
Goldenrod FAQs
Where does goldenrod grow?
Goldenrod grows mostly in North America, in meadows, pastures, wasteland and along roadsides. A few kinds are native to Mexico, Eurasia and South America.
When does goldenrod bloom?
Goldenrod blooms from July to October, with yellow to golden flowers on tall, arching branches.
How tall does goldenrod grow?
Goldenrod grows from about 0.5 metres to as much as 3.4 metres tall, depending on the kind.
Is goldenrod a good garden plant?
It can be tricky because it spreads quickly by underground rhizomes. Growers plant it in pots buried in the ground, or remove the extra growth each year.
Can you use goldenrod as a dried flower?
Yes. Goldenrod makes good dried flowers. Cut the stems and hang them upside down indoors to dry.
Randi Jones is the owner and founder of the Nature Gift Store, an online retailer specializing in nature-themed gifts, educational science projects, live animal nature kits and real butterfly artwork. A biology graduate who fell in love with insects, she founded the company in 2001 to make active learning about nature fun, accessible and engaging for children and adults. Her store offers real butterfly frames, home and garden decor and educational live animal kits, including ant farms, worm farms, tadpoles, ladybugs and hermit crabs, and she runs a bug museum in Washington featuring live animals like Eddie the Iguana alongside other reptiles and insects.
