Tall Goldenrod

Solidago altissima

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Canada Goldenrod, Late Goldenrod, Canadian Goldenrod

Courtesy: Anderson, Wynn, https://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=79418

Photo Credit: Lynn, Janice, https://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=36035

Photo Credit: Flaigg, Norman G., https://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=16020

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

Native Habitat: Grassland, Woodland

East Central Texas Plains, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain

Maintenance

Height is determined mostly by the fertility and moisture content of the soil. Found on roadsides, disturbed habitats, and open sites. Tall Goldenrod prefers full to partial sun, and average moisture levels. This plant will tolerate some drought, but may drop some of its lower leaves. It also tolerates a variety of soils, seeming to prefer a heavier soil with some clay content. The root system is fibrous, producing creeping rhizomes that spread and form colonies, therefore give lots of space.

Comments

Tall Goldenrod is a fall blooming perennial with rough, erect 2-ft stems that occur singularly or in clusters. The small, yellow flowers are arranged along the upper side of branches, forming a feathery, plume-shaped inflorescence. Leaves are 4-6″ long and 1″ wide, becoming smaller towards the top of the plant. The short hairs on the leaves give a gray-green tone. Canadian Goldenrod produces allelopathic compounds that suppress the growth of other plants and therefore can crowd them out. A patch of goldenrod can be beautiful addition to your garden if you have the space. Although goldenrod is often blamed for hay fever because it is in bloom during that season, ragweed is actually the cause. A great plant for attracting pollinators.

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

3 to

6 ft

Spread

2 to

3 ft

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Clay, Caliche, Moist, Dry

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Medium

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Bloom Color

Yellow

Bloom Season

Fall

Seasonal Interest

Seeds, Nectar

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Birds, Nectar Insects, Bees

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Previous Scientific Name(s): Synonym(s): Solidago altissima var. altissima, Solidago altissima var. pluricephala, Solidago altissima var. procera, Solidago canadensis var. scabra, Solidago hirsutissima, Solidago lunellii

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=SOAL6. 3) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Solidago+altissima&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 4) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=4430&locationType=County&mapType=Normal, 5) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=36228#null, 6) https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/solidago-altissima/

Native Plant Society of Texas