Table of Contents for Buckley’s Goldenrod (Solidago buckleyi)
Buckley’s Goldenrod (Solidago buckleyi) is a herbaceous perennial that is native in the mid-western United States. This species is a host to the baltimore checkerspot (Euphydryas phaeton) and several moths. Growing from 2 feet to 4 feet tall, this species grows in open, rocky woods. The yellow flowers bloom in September and the plant is hardy in zones 6-8.
Taxonomy and Naming of Buckley’s Goldenrod (Solidago buckleyi)
Taxonomy
Buckley’s Goldenrod (Solidago buckleyi) was originally named and described by John Torrey and Asa Gray, both American botanists, in 1842. It has kept this same name since and is a member of the Aster Family (Asteraceae).
Meaning of the Scientific and Common Names
Scientific Name
The genus name, Solidago, derives from the Latin words, Solidus and ago, which together mean to make (ago) whole (Solidus). This meaning comes from the medicinal uses of the plant. The species name, buckleyi, is a Latin for buckley.
Common Name and Alternative Names
The common name comes from the species name.
Physical Description
- Plant Type: This plant is a herbaceous perennial.
- Height: 2 ft (0.6 m) to 4 ft (1.2 m)
- Stem: The stems are erect and sparsely to moderately strigose puberulent (Flora of North America).
- Leaves: The leaves are alternate, with basal and cauline leaves, oblanceolate to ellptic-lanceolate, and have serrate margins. They are 3.0 in (8.0 cm) to 5.5 in (14.0 cm) long and 0.1 in (0.25 cm) to 0.2 in (0.4 cm) wide (Flora of North America).
- Flower color: yellow
- Blooming period: This plant blooms from September.
- Fruiting type and period: This plant has achenes that mature in the late fall and winter.
Range of Buckley’s Goldenrod in the United States and Canada
This goldenrod species is native to the mid-western United States and is considered to be rare in the states of Arkansas, Indiana, and Kentucky.
Habitat
This species grows in open oak woods (Flora of North America) and rocky woods (Mohlenbrock and Voight 1965).
Hosted Insects
This goldenrod, like a lot of other goldenrods, is a host to the wavy-lined emerald (Synchlora aerata). The genus in general is a host to the Baltimore Checkerspot (Euphydryas phaeton) and black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes).
Other Supported Wildlife
This species is a nectar source to other butterflies, skippers, bees, and wasps during the growing season. It is especially important since it provides a nectar source in the late season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this plant have any ethnobotanical uses?
The Native American Ethobotanical Database does not specifically this species, but Solidago in general has been used for colds, pain, heart medicine, and for stomach ailments.
How is this plant distinguished from other Goldenrods?
This goldenrod is similar to the downy yellow goldenrod (Solidago petiolaris), but differs in that S. petiolaris has acute leaf apices, and this species has short-accuminate leaf apices (Nesom 1990). S. petiolaris also has larger lower and mid-stem leaves than this species (University of Waterloo Asterae Lab).
Is this plant invasive?
This species has not been noted as being weedy.
Gardening with Buckley’s Goldenrod
Hardiness
This species is hardy in zones 6-8. If your garden is within these zones and you have the right growing conditions (soil, moisture and exposure), you may well be able to grow this plant. However, if planted outside of its range, the hosted species may not recognize the plant or be harmed by ingesting a different species with an unfamiliar chemical composition.
Optimal Conditions
This species requires full sun to part-shade and medium well-drained soils.
References
- Mohlenbrock, Robert and John Voight. 1965. An Annotated Checklist of Vascular Plants of the Southern Illinois University Pine Hills Field Station and Environs. Journal of the Illinois Academy of Science 58: 268-301.
- Nesom, Guy. 1990. Taxonomy of Solidago petiolaris (Astereae: Asteraceae) and related Mexican species. Phytologia 69: 445-456.
