Solidago canadensis (Canada Goldenrod)

Plant Info

Also known as:	Tall Goldenrod
Genus:	Solidago
Family:	Asteraceae (Aster)
Life cycle:	perennial
Origin:	native
Habitat:	sun; fields, along roads, open woods
Bloom season:	summer, fall
Plant height:	2 to 5 feet
USDA PLANTS database:	Minnesota county distribution map
Spotted in Ramsey County at:	Long Lake Regional Park

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Detailed Information

Flower:

Flowers are in plume-shaped spikes branching off the top of the plant, the flowers growing on just one side of a stem. Individual flowers are less than ¼ inch across, with 10 to 17 yellow petals (ray flowers).

Leaves and stem:

There can be wide variations in characteristics, but generally, leaves are to 6 inches long and 1 inch wide, tapering to a point at the tip and narrowing at the base, with no leaf stem and small teeth around the edges. There are 3 veins running parallel from near the base of the leaf. The underside of the leaf is hairy, especially along the veins and the upper side has a rough texture. The main stem has lines of fine short hairs in the upper part of the plant; the lower part of the stem may be smooth or hairy.

Notes:

Canada Goldenrod grows almost anywhere and can form large colonies, crowding out other plants and creating something of a monoculture. Which just goes to show that just because it's native doesn't necessarily mean it's desirable.

More photos

• full length of plant, about 5 feet tall
• a colony of Canada Goldenrod

Photos taken at Long Lake Regional Park, New Brighton, MN September 2006 and August-September 2007

Comments

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