Table of Contents for Slender Goldenrod (Solidago erecta)
Slender Goldenrod (Solidago erecta) is a herbaceous perennial that is native to the eastern United States. This species is a host to the baltimore checkerspot (Euphydryas phaeton) and several moths. Growing from 1 foot to 4 feet tall, this species grows in dry woods and barrens. The yellow flowers bloom from August to October and the plant is hardy in zones 4-8.
Taxonomy and Naming of Slender Goldenrod (Solidago erecta)
Taxonomy
Slender Goldenrod (Solidago erecta) was originally named and described by Joseph Banks, an English botanist, but it was not validly published. Later in 1813, Frederick Pursh, a German-American botanist, validly published the name. 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, erecta, is for the erect stems of the plant.
Common Name and Alternative Names
The common name comes from slender spike of flowers.
Physical Description
- Plant Type: This plant is a herbaceous perennial.
- Height: 1 ft (0.3 m) to 4 ft (1.2 m)
- Stem: The stems are erect, glabrous or hispid (Flora of North America).
- Leaves: The leaves are alternate, basal (wither with age) and cauline, oblanceolate to obovate, petioles are winged, and serrate margins. They are 1.4 in (3.6 cm) to 7 in (18 cm) long and 0.4 in (1 cm) to 2.4 in (6 cm) wide (Flora of North America).
- Flower color: yellow
- Blooming period: This plant blooms from August to October.
- Fruiting type and period: This plant has achenes that mature in the late fall and winter.
Range of Slender Goldenrod in the United States and Canada
This goldenrod species is native to the eastern United States. It is considered to be rare in the states of Connecticut, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.
Habitat
This species grows in dry woods, roadsides (Flora of North America), barrens (Allard 1940), dry hillsides (Stetson 1913), pine barrens (Stone 1907 and McAtee 1918), forest borders (Terrell 2000), open dry ground (Freeman 1953), open woods (Grossman and Pittillo 1962). and powerlines (Musselman, et al 1977).
Hosted Insects
This goldenrod, like a lot of other goldenrods, is a host to wavy-lined emerald (Synchlora aerata). The genus in general is a host to the Baltimore Checkerspot (Euphydryas phaeton) and black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes). This species also hosts leaf beetles (Futuyma 1990) and Andrena bees.
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 describe this species specifically, but the genus in general has been used as a nasal and stomach remedy.
How is this plant distinguished from other Goldenrods?
This goldenrod is similar to the white goldenrod (Solidago bicolor), both of which have flowers in an erect terminal spike. However the flowers of white goldenrod are white, and this goldenrod has yellow flowers. It is also similar to the showy goldenrod (Solidago speciosa), but this species has leaves that are greater than 2 cm in width, and slender goldenrod has leaves less than 2 cm.
Is this plant invasive?
This has not been noted as being weedy.
Gardening with Slender Goldenrod
Hardiness
This species is hardy in zones 4-8. 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 can grow in full sun to part-shade in dry well-drained soils.
Other Things of Note
This species has maroon leaves in the fall (Pearce and Gilbert 1935).
References
- Allard, H.A. 1940. Solidago bicolor A rather puzzling assemblage in northern Virginia. Virginia Journal of Science 1: 53-56.
- Freeman, O.M. 1953. Annotated List of the plants growing naturally at the National Arboretum. National Arboretum Contribution No. 1.
- Grossman, James and Dan Pittillo 1962. Shrubby and Herbaceous Flora of the Berea College Forest. Journal of the Kentucky Academy of Science 23(3): 61-73.
- McAtee, W.L. 1918. A sketch of the natural history of the District of Columbia together with an indexed edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s 1917 map of Washington and vicinity. Bulletin of the Biological Survey of Washington No. 1.
- Musselman, L.J., D.L. Nickrent, G.F. Levy. 2000. A Contribution Towards a Vascular Flora of The Great Dismal Swamp USA. Rhodora 79: 240-268.
- Pearce, Rex D. and Henry G. Gilbert. 1935. Seeds of Rare Plants: offer no. 25 B. (Merchantville, NJ: Rex D. Pearce).
- Stetson, Soreno. 1913. The Flora of Copake Falls, NY. Torreya 13(6): 121-133.
- Stone, Witmer. 1907. The Life-Areas of Southern New Jersey. Proceedings of The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 59: 452-460.
- Terrell, Edward E. 2000. Annotated List of the flora of the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, Maryland. USDA ARS-155.
- Weakley, A.S., and Southeastern Flora Team. 2022. Flora of the Southeastern United States. University of North Carolina Herbarium, North Carolina Botanical Garden.
