Kendall County (IL) Forest Preserve District
Canada Goldenrod
(Tall Goldenrod)
Solidago canadensis
[C-value
1]
Aster family (Asteraceae)
Blooms
mid-July -
mid-October
The native Canada Goldenrod is very common in our area. It prefers full to partial sun, and average moisture levels. Habitats include disturbed areas of prairies, openings in forests, thickets, savannas, and along roads. This perennial is 3-6' tall with a central stem having lines of white hairs and alternate leaves 4-6" long and 1" wide (becoming slightly smaller towards the plant's apex) that are lance-shaped and toothless. Several flowering stems emerge from the top of the plant and form panicles of tiny yellow flowers (less than ¼" across) in compact heads along the upper part of each flowering stem.
Canada Goldenrod at Rose Hill Subdivision August 25, 2013
Canada Goldenrod (attracting many pollinators) at Subat Forest Preserve August 14, 2013
Canada Goldenrod foliage at Richard Young Forest Preserve August 25, 2013
%20at%20PPFP%208-19-13.JPG)
Canada Goldenrod (plant mass at the apex just before bursting into flowering stems) at Pickerill/Pigott Forest Preserve August 19, 2013
Canada Goldenrod at Richard Young Forest Preserve August 29, 2012
Canada Goldenrod at Harris Forest Preserve August 20, 2013
Canada Goldenrod (whole field of) at Pickerill/Pigott Forest Preserve September 17, 2012
Canada Goldenrod fall seed head at Pickerill/Pigott Forest Preserve October 27, 2014
Canada Goldenrod is almost indistinguishable from Tall Goldenrod (Solidago altissima), so we apologize if we have mistakenly identified some of the plants pictured above as Canada Goldenrod rather than Tall Goldenrod.
Canada Goldenrod (and Tall Goldenrod) can be very aggressive and push out other plants in some locations. In much of Europe, it is labeled as an invasive plant.
Native Americans used Solidago as in “Sun Medicine” to calm upset stomach, cure wounds, and even for toothaches. The goldenrods were long used topically for wound healing and also to treat tuberculosis, diabetes, enlargement of the liver, gout, hemorrhoids, internal bleeding, asthma, arthritis, colds, flu, kidney stones, bladder and urinary inflammation, allergies, laryngitis and sore throat, mouth ulcers, cuts and abrasions. It has the ability to fight off infection because it has both antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory elements. Reminder: see our Do Not Disturb Notice.
Click here for more information.
Copyright © 2011-2017 by Kendall County Forest Preserve District. All Rights Reserved.