Solidago

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Solidago 'Leraft'


Plant Characteristics
Lifespan: ⌛ perennial
Cultivation
Features: ✓ flowers, naturalizes, invasive
Scientific Names

Asteraceae >

Solidago >


The goldenrods are genus of flowering plants in the Family Asteraceae.

About 100[1] perennial species make up the genus Solidago, most being found in the meadows and pastures, along roads, ditches and waste areas in North America. There are a handful of species from each of Mexico, South America, and Eurasia.[1] Some American species have also been introduced into Europe some 250 years ago.

Many species are difficult to distinguish. Probably due to their bright, golden yellow flower heads blooming in late summer, the goldenrod is often unfairly blamed for causing hay fever in humans. The pollen causing these allergy problems is mainly produced by Ragweed (Ambrosia sp.), blooming at the same time as the goldenrod, but is wind-pollinated. Goldenrod pollen is too heavy and sticky to be blown far from the flowers, and is thus mainly pollinated by insects.[citation needed] Frequent handling of goldenrod and other flowers, however, can cause allergic reactions.[2]

Goldenrods are easily recognized by their golden inflorescence with hundreds of small capitula, but some are spike-like and other have auxiliary racemes.

They have slender stems, usually hairless but S. canadensis shows hairs on the upper stem. They can grow to a length between 60 cm and 1.5 m.

Their alternate leaves are linear to lanceolate. Their margins are usually finely to sharply serrated.

Propagation is by wind-disseminated seed or by underground rhizomes. They form patches that are actually vegetative clones of a single plant.

British gardeners adopted goldenrod long before Americans. Goldenrod only began to gain some acceptance in American gardening (other than wildflower gardening) during the 1980s. A putative hybrid with aster, known as x Solidaster is less unruly, with pale yellow flowers, equally suitable for dried arrangements. Molecular and other evidence points to Solidaster (at least cultivar Lemore) being a hybrid of Solidago ptarmicoides and Solidago canadensis (the former is now placed in Solidago, but is the "aster" of the name, as it has had a checkered taxonomic past).[3]

Solidago canadensis was introduced as a garden plant in Central Europe, and is now common in the wild. In Germany, it is considered an invasive species that displaces native vegetation from its natural habitat.

Goldenrod is a companion plant, playing host to some beneficial insects, and repelling some pests.[citation needed]


Read about Solidago in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture 

Solidago (according to Gray, from "solidus and ago, to make solid or draw together, in allusion to reputed vulnerary properties"). Compositae. Golden-Rod. Perennial herbs very useful for borders and for colonizing, but little known in the trade.

Erect, of various habit, with simple alternate lvs. and many small yellow (rarely whitish) heads in spikes, thyrses, compound panicles, or racemes: heads oblong or narrow-campanulate, with small mostly appressed scales, containing few florets, the disk-florets all perfect and the ray-florets in one series and pistillate: pappus of 1 or 2 rows of roughish capillary bristles.— The genus is characteristic of E. N. Amer., where about 60 species occur. There are several species on the Pacific coast, a few in Mex. and S. Amer., and 2 or 3 in Eu. and N. Asia, making, altogether, perhaps 130 species. A very few of the important species may be described here; for others, the current botanical manuals should be consulted.

Amongst the glories of the American autumn are the asters and goldenrods. They complement each other. The asters run in cyanic colors, goldenrods in xanthic, —the blue and blush on the one hand and the yellow and golden on the other. Because the goldenrods are so common, they have not been appreciated for planting. They improve in the garden, however, the plants becoming larger and the bloom fuller and richer. They present few difficulties in cultivation. They may be transplanted from the wild with the greatest ease, and the stools may be lifted and divided as soon as they become root-bound and show signs of failing. Some of them become weedy if the soil is very rich. The solidagos are variable, even within the same species. Therefore it is well to mark fine individual clumps when in bloom, for removal in late autumn or early spring. The observation of a single season should result in a fine collection of individual plants. A very attractive grouping of asters and goldenrods can be made entirely of native species: with a background of sumac, the autumnal colors of which are beautifully harmonized by the blues and purples of the asters and the yellows and cream-yellows of the goldenrods.

Any number of Solidagos may be offered in lists, but they are scarcely trade commodities. S. Buckleyi, Torr. & Gray, N. C. to Ala., is a plant described as 2 or 3 ft. high, with ovate-oblong to oblong-lanceolate lvs., and heads in a loose and elongated thyrse; the name is listed abroad, the plant said to be "suitable for rock- garden, later summer-flowering, yellow, 1 ft." — S. flexuosa, S. gigantea, S. laevigata, are also listed, but the writers do not know what plants pass under these names in cult. — S. sempervirens. Linn. A maritime fleshy-lvd. smooth plant, tall and stout, 2-4 ft. and more: lvs. entire, lanceolate to lance-oblong: heads in short racemes which are disposed in a panicle. Atlantic seaboard of the U. S. — S. spectabilis, Gray. Plant 1-2 1/2 ft. tall: lvs. lanceolate to linear, the lower oblong or more or less spatulate and sparingly serrate: heads golden yellow, numerous and crowded in a thyrse. Nev. to Calif. CH


The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.


Cultivation

Propagation

Pests and diseases

Species

Solidago albopilosa
Goldenrods in rural Fountain County, Indiana.
Goldenrod achene and galls
    • Solidago missouriensis Nutt. var. tolmieana (Gray) Cronq. : Tolmies' Goldenrod
  • Solidago mollis Bartl. : Velvety Goldenrod
    • Solidago mollis var. angustata Shinners : Velvety Goldenrod
    • Solidago mollis var. mollis : Velvety Goldenrod
  • Solidago multiradiata Ait. : Rocky Mountain Goldenrod, Alpine Goldenrod
    • Solidago multiradiata var. arctica (DC.) Fern. : Arctic Goldenrod
    • Solidago multiradiata var. multiradiata : Rocky Mountain Goldenrod
    • Solidago multiradiata var. scopulorum Gray : Manyray Goldenrod
  • Solidago nana Nutt. : Baby Goldenrod
  • Solidago nemoralis Ait. : Gray Goldenrod, American Western Goldenrod
    • Solidago nemoralis var. longipetiolata (Mackenzie & Bush) Palmer & Steyermark : Gray Goldenrod
    • Solidago nemoralis var. nemoralis : Gray Goldenrod
  • Solidago odora Ait. : Anise-scented Goldenrod, Sweet Goldenrod
    • Solidago odora var. chapmanii (Gray) Cronq. : Chapman's Goldenrod
    • Solidago odora var. odora : Anise-scented Goldenrod
  • Solidago ouachitensis C.& J. Taylor : Ouachita Mountain Goldenrod
  • Solidago patula Muhl. ex Willd. : Roundleaf Goldenrod
    • Solidago patula var. patula : Roundleaf Goldenrod
    • Solidago patula var. strictula Torr. & Gray : Roundleaf Goldenrod
  • Solidago petiolaris Ait. : Downy Ragged Goldenrod
    • Solidago petiolaris var. angusta (Torr. & Gray) Gray : Downy Ragged Goldenrod
    • Solidago petiolaris var. petiolaris : Downy Ragged Goldenrod
  • Solidago pinetorum Small : Small's Goldenrod
  • Solidago plumosa Small : Plumed Goldenrod
  • Solidago porteri Small : Porter's Goldenrod
  • Solidago puberula Nutt. : Downy Goldenrod (VU)
    • Solidago puberula var. puberula : Downy Goldenrod
    • Solidago puberula var. pulverulenta (Nutt.) Chapman : Downy Goldenrod
  • Solidago pulchra Small : Carolina Goldenrod
  • Solidago radula Nutt. : Western Rough Goldenrod
    • Solidago radula var. laeta (Greene) Fern. : Western Rough Goldenrod
    • Solidago radula var. radula : Western Rough Goldenrod
    • Solidago radula var. stenolepis Fern. : Western Rough Goldenrod
  • Solidago roanensis Porter : Roan Mountain Goldenrod (Endangered)
  • Solidago rugosa P. Mill. : Wrinkleleaf Goldenrod, Rough-stemmed Goldenrod
    • Solidago rugosa subsp. aspera (Ait.) Cronq. : Wrinkleleaf Goldenrod
    • Solidago rugosa subsp. rugosa : Wrinkleleaf Goldenrod
      • Solidago rugosa subsp. rugosa var. rugosa : Wrinkleleaf Goldenrod
      • Solidago rugosa subsp. rugosa var. sphagnophila Graves : Wrinkleleaf Goldenrod
      • Solidago rugosa subsp. rugosa var. villosa (Pursh) Fern. : Wrinkleleaf Goldenrod
  • Solidago rupestris Raf. : Eock Goldenrod
  • Solidago sciaphila Steele : Shadowy Goldenrod
  • Solidago sempervirens L. : Seaside Goldenrod, Beach Goldenrod
    • Solidago sempervirens var. mexicana (L.) Fern. : Seaside Goldenrod
    • Solidago sempervirens var. sempervirens : Seaside Goldenrod
  • Solidago shortii Torr. & Gray : Short's Goldenrod (Endangered)
  • Solidago simplex Kunth : Mt. Albert Goldenrod
  • Solidago simplex subsp. randii (Porter) Ringius : Rand's Goldenrod
    • Solidago simplex subsp. randii var. gillmanii (Gray) Ringius : Rand's Goldenrod
      • Solidago simplex subsp. randii var. monticola (Porter) Ringius : Rand's Goldenrod
      • Solidago simplex subsp. randii var. ontarioensis (Ringius) Ringius : Ontario Goldenrod
      • Solidago simplex subsp. randii var. racemosa (Greene) Ringius : Rand's Goldenrod
      • Solidago simplex subsp. randii var. randii (Porter) Kartesz & Gandhi : Rand's Goldenrod
    • Solidago simplex subsp. simplex : Mt. Albert Goldenrod
      • Solidago simplex subsp. simplex var. nana (Gray) Ringius : Dwarf Goldenrod
      • Solidago simplex subsp. simplex var. simplex : Mt. Albert Goldenrod
      • Solidago simplex subsp. simplex var. spathulata (DC.) Cronq. : Mt. Albert Goldenrod
  • Solidago simulans Fern. : Fall Goldenrod
  • Solidago speciosa Nutt. : Showy Goldenrod
    • Solidago speciosa var. erecta (Pursh) MacM. : Showy Goldenrod
    • Solidago speciosa var. jejunifolia (Steele) Cronq. : Showy Goldenrod
    • Solidago speciosa var. pallida Porter :Showy Goldenrod
    • Solidago speciosa var. rigidiuscula Torr. & Gray : Showy Goldenrod
    • Solidago speciosa var. speciosa : Showy Goldenrod
  • Solidago spectabilis (D.C. Eat.) Gray : Nevada Goldenrod
    • Solidago spectabilis var. confinis (Gray) Cronq. : Nevada Goldenrod
    • Solidago spectabilis var. spectabilis : Nevada Goldenrod
  • Solidago spathulata : Mountain Goldenrod
  • Solidago sphacelata Raf. : Autumn Goldenrod
  • Solidago spithamaea M.A. Curtis : Blue Ridge Goldenrod
  • Solidago squarrosa Nutt. : Stout Goldenrod, Big Goldenrod
  • Solidago stricta Ait. : Wand Goldenrod
  • Solidago tortifolia Ell. : Twistleaf Goldenrod
  • Solidago tenuifolia : Slender Goldenrod
  • Solidago uliginosa Nutt. : Bog Goldenrod
    • Solidago uliginosa var. levipes (Fern.) Fern. : Bog Goldenrod
    • Solidago uliginosa var. linoides (Torr. & Gray) Fern. : Bog Goldenrod
    • Solidago uliginosa var. terrae-novae (Torr. & Gray) Fern. : Bog Goldenrod
    • Solidago uliginosa. var. uliginosa : Bog Goldenrod
  • Solidago ulmifolia Muhl. ex Willd. : Elmleaf Goldenrod
    • Solidago ulmifolia var. microphylla Gray : Elmleaf Goldenrod
    • Solidago ulmifolia var. palmeri Cronq. : Palmer's Goldenrod
    • Solidago ulmifolia var. ulmifolia : Elmleaf Goldenrod
  • Solidago velutina DC. : Threenerve Goldenrod
  • Solidago verna M.A. Curtis : Springflowering Goldenrod
  • Solidago virgaurea : Goldenrod, Aaron’s Rod
  • Solidago wrightii Gray : Wright's Goldenrod
    • Solidago wrightii var. adenophora Blake : Wright's Goldenrod
    • Solidago wrightii var. wrightii : Wright's Goldenrod

Natural hybrids:

  • Solidago Hybrid Cultivars
  • Solidago × asperula Desf. (S. rugosa × S. sempervirens)
  • Solidago × beaudryi Boivin (S. rugosa × S. uliginosa)
  • Solidago × erskinei Boivin (S. canadensis × S. sempervirens)
  • Solidago × ovata Friesner (S. sphacelata × S. ulmifolia)
  • Solidago × ulmicaesia Friesner (S. caesia × S. ulmifolia)

Gallery

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Solidago". Flora of North America.
  2. ↑ Occupational allergy caused by flowers, journal = Allergy, volume = 53, issue = 2, pages = 204–9, issn = 0105-4538
  3. ↑ Molecular analysis of Solidaster cv. Lemore, a hybrid goldenrod (Asteraceae)

External links


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