Solidago Canadenis
Figure 1: Canadian Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis),Hertfordshire, 4 September 2013.
Aster Family
Interesting Facts
Although it has been falsely blamed for causing hay fever, the Canada Goldenrod has many purposes that benefit both human society and the environment. It has been used in European medicine for over 700 years and has been used in medicines in Russia such as prostanorm and phytolysine. Over the years it has been used for treating wounds, allergies, arthritis, and asthma. It has also been known to attract pollinating bees, birds, and bugs that eat pest bugs.
Description
The Solidago Canadensis, more commonly known as the Canada Golden rod, is an invasive species that is found in several regions of the US and Canada. The flower itself has a straight, greenish red stem with a hairy surface that can grow to three to six feet, and a cup shaped yellow flower that grows to one inch long. There are typically seven to twenty petals in each cluster. The flower typically grows in the late summer to fall, specifically in September, October, and November.
Figure 2: Canada Goldenrod, Sept. 2022, photo by Ellie Nessman
Location
The Canada goldenrod grows in almost all US states except for Hawaii, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida. They can also be found in almost all of Canada except in the Nunavut Province.
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