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Grass-leaved Goldenrod

Solidago graminifolia

Please keep in mind that it is illegal to uproot a plant without the landowner's consent and care should be taken at all times not to damage wild plants. Wild plants should never be picked for pleasure and some plants are protected by law.
For more information please download the BSBI Code of Conduct PDF document.

Contents

Plant Profile

Flowering Months:
JAN  FEB  MAR  APR  MAY  JUN  JUL  AUG  SEP  OCT  NOV  DEC
Order:
Asterales
Family:
Asteraceae (Daisy)
Also in this family:
Alpine Blue Sow-thistle, Alpine Cotula, Alpine Fleabane, Alpine Saw-wort, Annual Ragweed, Annual Sunflower, Argentine Fleabane, Autumn Hawkbit, Autumn Oxeye, Beaked Hawksbeard, Beggarticks, Bilbao Fleabane, Black Knapweed, Black-eyed Susan, Blanketflower, Blue Fleabane, Blue Globe-thistle, Bristly Oxtongue, Broad-leaved Cudweed, Broad-leaved Ragwort, Brown Knapweed, Butterbur, Buttonweed, Cabbage Thistle, Canadian Fleabane, Canadian Goldenrod, Carline Thistle, Chalk Knapweed, Chamois Ragwort, Changing Michaelmas Daisy, Chicory, Chinese Mugwort, Chinese Ragwort, Coltsfoot, Common Blue Sow-thistle, Common Cat's-ear, Common Cudweed, Common Daisy, Common Dandelion, Common Fleabane, Common Goldenrod, Common Groundsel, Common Michaelmas Daisy, Common Mugwort, Common Ragwort, Common Wormwood, Coneflower, Confused Michaelmas Daisy, Corn Chamomile, Corn Marigold, Cornflower, Cotton Thistle, Cottonweed, Creeping Thistle, Daisy Bush, Dwarf Cudweed, Dwarf Thistle, Early Goldenrod, Eastern Groundsel, Eastern Leopardsbane, Elecampane, English Hawkweed, Fen Ragwort, Feverfew, Field Fleawort, Field Wormwood, Fox and Cubs, French Tarragon, Gallant Soldier, Garden Lettuce, Giant Butterbur, Glabrous-headed Hawkweed, Glandular Globe-thistle, Glaucous Michaelmas Daisy, Globe Artichoke, Globe-thistle, Goat's Beard, Golden Ragwort, Golden Samphire, Goldilocks Aster, Great Lettuce, Greater Burdock, Greater Knapweed, Grey-headed Hawkweed, Guernsey Fleabane, Hairless Blue Sow-thistle, Hairless Leptinella, Hairy Michaelmas Daisy, Harpur Crewe's Leopardsbane, Hawkweed Oxtongue, Heath Cudweed, Heath Groundsel, Hemp Agrimony, Highland Cudweed, Hoary Mugwort, Hoary Ragwort, Hybrid Knapweed, Intermediate Burdock, Irish Fleabane, Jersey Cudweed, Jerusalem Artichoke, Lance-leaved Hawkweed, Lavender-cotton, Leafless Hawksbeard, Least Lettuce, Leopardplant, Leopardsbane, Leptinella, Lesser Burdock, Lesser Hawkbit, Lesser Sunflower, London Bur-marigold, Magellan Ragwort, Marsh Cudweed, Marsh Hawksbeard, Marsh Ragwort, Marsh Sow-thistle, Marsh Thistle, Meadow Thistle, Melancholy Thistle, Mexican Fleabane, Milk Thistle, Mountain Everlasting, Mouse-ear Hawkweed, Musk Thistle, Narrow-leaved Cudweed, Narrow-leaved Hawkweed, Narrow-leaved Michaelmas Daisy, Narrow-leaved Ragwort, New England Hawkweed, New Zealand Holly, Nipplewort, Nodding Bur-marigold, Northern Hawksbeard, Norwegian Mugwort, Oxeye Daisy, Oxford Ragwort, Pearly Everlasting, Perennial Cornflower, Perennial Ragweed, Perennial Sow-thistle, Perennial Sunflower, Pineapple Mayweed, Plantain-leaved Leopardsbane, Ploughman's Spikenard, Plymouth Thistle, Pontic Blue Sow-thistle, Pot Marigold, Prickly Lettuce, Prickly Sow-thistle, Purple Coltsfoot, Rayed Tansy, Red Star Thistle, Red-seeded Dandelion, Red-tipped Cudweed, Robin's Plantain, Roman Chamomile, Rough Cocklebur, Rough Hawkbit, Rough Hawksbeard, Russian Lettuce, Safflower, Salsify, Saw-wort, Scented Mayweed, Scentless Mayweed, Sea Aster, Sea Mayweed, Sea Wormwood, Seaside Daisy, Shaggy Mouse-ear Hawkweed, Shaggy Soldier, Shasta Daisy, Shetland Mouse-ear Hawkweed, Shrub Ragwort, Sicilian Chamomile, Silver Ragwort, Slender Mugwort, Slender Thistle, Small Cudweed, Small Fleabane, Smooth Cat's-ear, Smooth Hawksbeard, Smooth Sow-thistle, Sneezeweed, Sneezewort, Spear Thistle, Spotted Cat's-ear, Spotted Hawkweed, Sticky Groundsel, Stinking Chamomile, Stinking Hawksbeard, Tall Fleabane, Tall Mouse-ear Hawkweed, Tansy, Thin-leaved Sunflower, Treasureflower, Trifid Bur-marigold, Tuberous Thistle, Tyneside Leopardplant, Viper's Grass, Wall Lettuce, Welsh Groundsel, Welted Thistle, White African Daisy, White Butterbur, White Buttons, Willdenow's Leopardsbane, Winter Heliotrope, Wood Burdock, Wood Ragwort, Woody Fleabane, Woolly Thistle, Yarrow, Yellow Chamomile, Yellow Fox and Cubs, Yellow Oxeye, Yellow Star Thistle, Yellow Thistle, York Groundsel
Type:
Flower
Life Cycle:
Perennial
Maximum Size:
120 centimetres tall
Habitats:
Fields, meadows, roadsides, woodland.

Flower:
֍
Yellow, many petals
 
The yellow flowers appear in a flat-topped cluster, up to 30cm (1 foot) wide. The flowers themselves are tiny and numerous. The similar Canadian Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) does not have a flat-topped cluster. Insect pollinated.
Fruit:
The fruit is a seed with a tuft of downy hair at one end.
Leaves:
Narrow, untoothed, lance-shaped leaves. Similar in appearance to Canadian Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) but the leaves are much narrower. Grass-leaved Goldenrod has previously been found in a wood in North Devon. Perennial.
Other Names:
Flat-topped Goldenrod.
Frequency (UK):
Rarely seen  

Similar Species

Other Information

Summary

Solidago graminifolia, also known as grass-leaved goldenrod, is a perennial plant in the Asteraceae family. It is native to North America and is found throughout most of the United States and southern Canada. The plant can reach a height of 2-4 feet, and has long, narrow leaves that resemble grass blades, from which it gets its name. The flowers are small and bright yellow, arranged in small clusters, and bloom from late summer to early fall.

This species of Goldenrod is a robust and adaptable plant, tolerant of many soil types and light conditions. It is also drought-tolerant and can colonize in disturbed areas such as roadsides, railroads and fields, and it can also be found in open woods and prairies.

Solidago graminifolia has been used for medicinal purposes and for making dyes, also it is a source of nectar for insects, and its leaves are food for some species of caterpillars. It is also often used as an ornamental garden plant and as part of wildflower meadows.


Blog

Grass-leaved Goldenrod, also known by its scientific name Solidago graminifolia, is a wildflower native to North America. This plant is a member of the Asteraceae family and is commonly found in open fields, prairies, and along roadsides.

Appearance and Characteristics

Grass-leaved Goldenrod is a perennial plant that can grow up to 4 feet tall. It has narrow, grass-like leaves that are green in color and grow up to 4 inches long. The plant produces small, bright yellow flowers that bloom from late summer to early fall. These flowers are arranged in clusters at the top of the stem and attract a variety of pollinators, including bees and butterflies.

Uses

Grass-leaved Goldenrod has a long history of use in traditional medicine. Native Americans used it to treat a variety of ailments, including colds, fevers, and digestive problems. Today, it is still used in herbal medicine to treat these and other conditions, such as arthritis and urinary tract infections. It is also used as a natural remedy for allergies and respiratory problems.

In addition to its medicinal uses, Grass-leaved Goldenrod is also valued for its ornamental qualities. Its bright yellow flowers make it a popular addition to gardens and landscapes, where it can be used as a border plant or as part of a mixed planting.

Conservation

Grass-leaved Goldenrod is an important plant for pollinators, providing nectar and pollen for bees and butterflies. However, like many wildflowers, it is under threat from habitat loss and fragmentation. To help protect Grass-leaved Goldenrod and other wildflowers, it is important to support conservation efforts that preserve and restore their natural habitats.

In conclusion so far, Grass-leaved Goldenrod is a beautiful and useful plant that is worth celebrating and protecting. Whether you appreciate it for its medicinal properties, ornamental value, or its role in supporting pollinators, it is an important part of our natural heritage that deserves our attention and care.

More Information

Grass-leaved Goldenrod is a hardy plant that is well-suited to a variety of growing conditions. It is tolerant of both drought and poor soil and can be grown in full sun to partial shade. In the wild, it is often found growing in disturbed areas, such as abandoned fields and roadsides.

If you are interested in growing Grass-leaved Goldenrod in your garden, it is important to choose a location that receives plenty of sunlight and has well-draining soil. The plant can be propagated from seed or by division in the early spring or fall. Once established, it requires little maintenance beyond occasional watering and fertilization.

In addition to its ornamental and medicinal uses, Grass-leaved Goldenrod has also been used for dyeing textiles. The plant contains a yellow pigment that can be extracted and used to dye wool and other fibers.

Grass-leaved Goldenrod is a versatile and valuable plant that has much to offer. Whether you are interested in its medicinal properties, its ornamental value, or its role in supporting pollinators, it is a plant that is well worth exploring further. By learning more about Grass-leaved Goldenrod and other wildflowers, we can better appreciate and protect the natural world around us.

Grass-leaved Goldenrod is also an important source of food for wildlife. Its seeds are a favorite of many bird species, including finches, sparrows, and towhees. Insects also feed on the plant's leaves and flowers, providing a crucial source of food for birds and other animals.

The plant's extensive root system also helps to stabilize soil and prevent erosion, making it a valuable addition to conservation efforts aimed at preserving natural habitats and preventing soil degradation.

One interesting fact about Grass-leaved Goldenrod is that it is often confused with other goldenrod species, particularly Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis). While these plants share some similarities, Grass-leaved Goldenrod can be distinguished by its narrow, grass-like leaves, which are significantly thinner than the leaves of Canada goldenrod. In addition, Grass-leaved Goldenrod typically grows in more open, sunny areas, while Canada goldenrod is more commonly found in shaded areas and along the edges of woodlands.

Another interesting aspect of Grass-leaved Goldenrod is its cultural significance. The plant has a long history of use in Native American traditions, where it was often used in spiritual and healing practices. The Cherokee, for example, used the plant to treat fevers, coughs, and other respiratory ailments, as well as to make tea for use in purification rituals. The Iroquois also used Grass-leaved Goldenrod to treat colds, as well as for its anti-inflammatory properties.

Today, Grass-leaved Goldenrod continues to be used in herbal medicine and is valued for its immune-boosting and anti-inflammatory properties. It is also used as a natural remedy for urinary tract infections, kidney stones, and other urinary disorders.

In addition to its medicinal uses, Grass-leaved Goldenrod has also been used in traditional crafts. The plant's stems were sometimes used to make baskets and other woven items, while its leaves were used to make tea.

Overall, Grass-leaved Goldenrod is a fascinating and important plant with a rich history and a range of uses. Whether you are interested in its cultural significance, its ecological value, or its medicinal properties, this plant is a subject worth exploring further. By learning more about Grass-leaved Goldenrod and other native plants, we can deepen our understanding of the natural world and work to protect and preserve it for generations to come.