Kendall County (IL) Forest Preserve District
Showy Goldenrod
Solidago speciosa
[C-value
7]
Aster family (Asteraceae)
Blooms
mid-July -
October
The native Showy Goldenrod is rare in our area. It prefers full or partial sun, and slightly moist to slight dry conditions. Habitats include medium-moist to slightly dry black soil prairies, openings in rocky upland forests, thickets and woodland borders. This lovely perennial is usually unbranched and up to 4' tall with alternate leaves, narrowly lance-shaped, untoothed and up to 6" long and 1½" wide with small leaves from upper axils of the primary leaves. The showy inflorescence is up to 1' long, an erect "showy" panicle of small yellow compound flowers each about ¼" across with 4-10 ray florets surrounding the disk florets.
Showy Goldenrod at Millbrook South Forest Preserve September 19, 2013
Showy Goldenrod at Millbrook South Forest Preserve September 19, 2013
Showy Goldenrod foliage at Hoover Native Garden August 26, 2014
Showy Goldenrod at Millbrook South Forest Preserve September 19, 2013
Showy Goldenrod fall foliage at Hoover Native Garden September 25, 2014
Showy Goldenrod fall seeds at Hoover Native Garden October 27, 2014
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.
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