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A Comprehensive Guide to Seaside Goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens)

Seaside Goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) is a herbaceous perennial that is found on the east coast and the shores of the Great Lakes in the United States and Canada. This plant, along with other goldenrods, is an important nectar source for many insects in the fall including the Monarch butterfly. It can grow from 2 to 8 feet tall and has lanceolate to oblong leaves with entire margins. The golden yellow flowers bloom from August to November and it is hardy in zones 3-8. The seeds for this plant can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.

Taxonomy and Naming of Seaside Goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens)

Herbarium specimen of seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens).
Herbarium Specimen — Solidago sempervirens L. collected in United States of America by The New York Botanical Garden (licensed under CC BY 4.0)
Holotype specimen of seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens).
Holotype of Seaside Goldenrod — “BM001050792” – Solidago sempervirens L. collected in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland by The Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London (licensed under CC BY 4.0)

Taxonomy

Seaside Goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) was named by Carl von Linnaeus in 1753 in Species Plantarum based on a specimen in a garden in England. This species has kept the same name since. This plant is a member of the Aster Family (Asteraceae).

Varieties

Seaside goldenrod has two varieties — var. mexicana and var. sempervirens. Variety mexicana has a more southern distribution, while the typic variety sempervirens has a northeastern distribution and has been introduced in the Great Lakes region. The mexicana variety has two synonyms associated with it.

Synonyms for var. mexicana

  • Solidago mexicana
  • Solidago petiolata

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). The name comes from the medicinal uses of the plant. The species name, sempervirens, derives from the Latin for “always green” meaning that the plant is evergreen through the year (Wordsense).

Common Names and Alternative Names

The common name as used in this post refers to the habitat of the plant since it is found on shores or the seaside. Other common names are also descriptive of the habitat and include northern seaside goldenrod or salt-marsh goldenrod. Another, evergreen goldenrod, stems from the fact that it is green throughout the year. Sometimes it is called just plain “goldenrod.”

Physical Description

Plant of seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) in a garden.
Plant in Garden — Solidago sempervirens L. observed in United States of America by Ira Gershenhorn (licensed under CC0 1.0)

Description

  • Plant Type: This plant is herbaceous perennial that is somewhat succulent. This plant is highly tolerant of salt spray, which allows it to exist in coastal dunes.
  • Height: 2 to 8 feet (1 – 2.5 m) tall.
  • Leaves: The leaves are alternate, simple, entire, and lanceolate to oblong in shape. They are 2 to 24 inches in length and 0.5 to 3 inches in width.
  • Flower Color: The flowers are generally a golden/yellow color. In Massachusetts there is a form that is pale lemon yellow (Harris 1958) and white flowered population (Kidder 1917).
  • Blooming period: August to November
  • Fruiting type and period: achene — October to November

Range of Seaside Goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) in the United States and Canada

Range map of Seaside Goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens var. sempervirens).
Seaside Goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens var. sempervirens) has a more northern distribution as compared to var. mexicana and is located in the northeastern United States and Canada. It is considered to be rare in the state of Virginia and the province of Newfoundland. This species has been introduced in the Great Lakes region — Kartesz, J.T., The Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2015. North American Plant Atlas. (https://bonap.net/napa). Chapel Hill, N.C. [maps generated from Kartesz, J.T. 2015. Floristic Synthesis of North America, Version 1.0. Biota of North America Program (BONAP). (in press)].
Range map of Seaside Goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens var. mexicana).
Seaside Goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens var. mexicana) has a more southern distribution than the typic variety and occurs along the east coast of the United States. It ranges as far south as Central America and into the West Indies. This species is considered to be rare in the states of New York and Massachusetts — Kartesz, J.T., The Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2015. North American Plant Atlas. (https://bonap.net/napa). Chapel Hill, N.C. [maps generated from Kartesz, J.T. 2015. Floristic Synthesis of North America, Version 1.0. Biota of North America Program (BONAP). (in press)].

Habitat

Sand dune habitat in Delaware.
Sand Dune Habitat — Butcher Bill, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

This goldenrod grows in places where it is exposed to full sun along coastal shores in dunes, marshes, and sandy swales. It can also be found on roadsides that are exposed to winter road salt.

Hosted Insects

Wavy-lined emerald moth on fabric.
Wavy-lined Emerald — CBG Photography Group, Centre for Biodiversity Genomics, CC0 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons

This goldenrod supports the Wavy-lined Emerald (Synchlora aerata).

Other Supported Wildlife

Monarch butterfly on green flower.
Green Flower with Monarch Butterfly — U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Most goldenrods are major sources of nectar for a lot of insects in the fall. This goldenrod is no different. Insects that are helped the most include Andrena bees and bumblebees, but butterflies are also frequent visitors including Monarch butterflies. The leaves are enjoyed by leaf beetles and miners (Great Lakes Aquatic Non-Indigenous Species). Birds are fond of the fruits and it is deer resistant, most likely because of its succulent nature.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this plant poisonous?

The Celebrity Angels site lists Solidago, or goldenrods in general as being mildly poisonous to pets and the Deerfield Veterinary Clinic lists it as well. The Botanical Online site says that goldenrods are not poisonous, but that they can cause gastronomic distress if eaten.

How has this goldenrod been used?

There is no information on this particular species, but goldenrods in general have been used for pain relief and for respiratory ailments.

What other goldenrods are similar?

This species is one of the taller goldenrods and not all that similar to other goldenrods on the east coast. Generally it can be identified by the coastal habitat where it is one of the only goldenrods in the area. This species is similar to Solidago azorica in the Azores Islands (St. John 1915). This species has been reported to hybridize with Solidago rugosa (Great Lakes Non-Indigenous Species) and with Solidago stricta (Cronquist 1980). Wand goldenrod (Solidago stricta) is very close in appearance to this plant, but it has larger stem leaves and forms mats in wetlands.

Is it invasive?

This goldenrod, while introduced in the Great Lakes region and throughout other parts of the world is not considered to be invasive. It is short-lived and grows in an inhospitable habitat with no spreading by rhizomes.

Is it deer resistant?

This species is considered to be deer resistant by most sources.

Does goldenrod cause allergies or hay fever?

Goldenrods in general, which do not cause hayfever, are often confused for ragweed (Ambrosia sp.), which cause the common hayfever. These plants bloom at the same time, which may lead to the confusion.

Gardening with Seaside Goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens)

Add Seaside Goldenrod to your Garden

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Plants of seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) on wood edge.
Plants of Seaside Goldenrod — Solidago sempervirens L. observed in United States of America by Ira Gershenhorn (licensed under CC0 1.0)

Hardiness

This goldenrod is hardy in zones 3-8 and prefers open areas with full sun that have sandy well-drained soil.

Optimal Conditions

This goldenrod prefers places that have full sun, but can handle some shade. Soils should be somewhat moist, but well-drained. This plant is known to transplant well and is easily spread by seed. It has an early blooming time from June to August and is one of the first goldenrods to flower.

References

  • Cronquist, A. 1980. Vascular Flora of the southeastern United States I. Asteraceae. University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill.
  • Harris, Stuart K. 1958. A new color form of Solidago sempervirens. Rhodora 60: 261-262.
  • Kidder, Nathaniel T. 1917. A form of Solidago sempervirens with White Rays. Rhodora 19: 20-20.
  • St. John, Harold. 1915. An insular variety of Solidago sempervirens. Contributions of the Gray Herbarium 43: 26-27.

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