Information courtesy of Magna Vista High School students

 

 

 

 

 

Solidago, or goldenrod,  is a plant that grows in late summer. Its stems are covered with fine hairs at the top but otherwise are smooth. The leaves are sharply toothed, lanceolate, and triple-nerved. The flowers usually bloom in July through October. It is found in all of United States except for Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Georgia, and South Carolina.

​

The plants scientific name  means " whole" in Latin  So it connotes making whole or healing.

Its common names are Canadian goldenrod, meadow goldenrod, common goldenrod, giant goldenrod, tall goldenrod, shorthair goldenrod and rough goldenrod.

​

It belongs to the plant family Asteraceae. This large plant family includes Sunflowers and Daisies.

​

Solidago was introduced to Europe in 1645 and to China in 1930. It is considered an invasive weed in some places.Its Pollinators are honeybees and butterflies.

 

Insects associated with the plant are the soldier beetle and black blister beetle.

​

Its historical value is use for a treatment of kidney stones, urinary tract infections, and a variety of other medical conditions. It was also a treatment for hemorrhoids, diabetes, gout, asthma, and infections in the mouth and throat. People in the Appalachian Mountains also use it to make blue mountain tea for a fatigue.

​

This plant is an endangered species in most states but is very common in Virginia.

​

 

https://plants.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/fs_soca6.pdf

​

http://www.hortmag.com/plants/plants-we-love/solar-cascade-goldenrod

​

http://www.life.ca/naturallife/0410/glorious_goldenrod.htm

​

https://www.google.com/search?

q=solidago+plant&safe=strict&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjx2rG98a7WAhWpiFQKHXQpAQQQ_AUICygC&biw=7