Goldenrod – Solidago spp.

Common Name: Goldenrod

Botanical Name: Solidago spp., so-li-DAH-go

Decorative Life: 7-10 days.

Flower Color: Yellow

Availability: Summer, Year Round

Harvest when 2/3 of flowers are open.

• Members of the Asteraceae or Compositae (aster family).
• Species are native to North/South America, Europe, Asia.
• Common relatives include chrysanthemum, cosmos, dahlia, zinnia, ageratum, lettuce and endive.

• Has many tiny flowers in arching wands, erect spikes, branching plumes.
• Stems are leafy, 18-24 inches long.
• Plant is a herbaceous perennial, classed as a dicotyledon.
• Flowers are not fragrant.

36-41F, up to 5 days dry.

• From the Latin “solido” (to make whole or strengthen), referring to medicinal properties.
• Goldenrod is not allergenic and its pollen is heavy and therefore cannot be carried easily by wind. Pollen causing hay fever is light and wind-borne, such as that from ragweed.
• The Compositae or aster family is vast, with over 20,000 species, and is also one of the most developed families. It was named Compositae because the flowers are actually a “composite” of many individual flowers into one head. Hence, when children pull one “petal” off at a time, saying “she/he loves me, loves me not”, they are actually removing a complete flower, not just a petal.
• Suitable for drying