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Rough Goldenrod Solidago rugosa

Other plants called Rough Goldenrod:

Phonetic Spelling
so-li-DAY-go roo-GO-suh
Description

A compact, cascading, clump-forming native with 2-5 foot stems that have radiating light yellow flowers at the tips. Flowers in September. Numerous tiny, toothed leaves have rough, wrinkled surface. A great addition for late season color and to lure the butterflies in. Also attractive to birds, native and honey bees. It is found in moist sites as  sandy swamps, wet sandy prairies, sandy banks of marshes, acid gravelly seeps, sand dunes, and rocky bluffs. 

In recent times goldenrods have been blamed for hay fever, but its irritating symptoms are actually caused by ragweed (Ambrosia species), whose pollen is airborne when the goldenrod is in flower.

Rough-Leaf Goldenrod is a herbaceous perennial that grows to 4 feet. Stems are hairy and upright with rough-textured leaves at the base. Arching spikes of yellow flowers appear in late summer and early fall. It needs full sun to light shade and moist to wet soils.

Fire Risk: This plant has a medium flammability rating. 

Seasons of Interest:

     Bloom: Fall;  Fruit/Seed/Nut: Fall 

This plant may be confused with: Any other goldenrod species Solidago spp.

VIDEO: Part of the Native Plant Picks series from the North Carolina Sea Grant led Coastal Landscapes Initiative.

 

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
'Fireworks'
Tags:
#showy flowers#rain garden#fall flowers#yellow flowers#native perennial#honey bees#native bees#fall interest#pond margins#specialized bees#highly beneficial coastal plants#fire medium flammability#NC native#goldenrod#herbaceous perennial#native garden#pollinator plant#larval host plant#food source fall#NC Native Pollinator Plant#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#Coastal FAC#Piedmont Mountains FAC#bird friendly#food source hard mast fruit#butterfly friendly#bee friendly#Audubon#wavy-lined emerald butterfly#stormwater demo garden orange co#wildflower#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
'Fireworks'
Tags:
#showy flowers#rain garden#fall flowers#yellow flowers#native perennial#honey bees#native bees#fall interest#pond margins#specialized bees#highly beneficial coastal plants#fire medium flammability#NC native#goldenrod#herbaceous perennial#native garden#pollinator plant#larval host plant#food source fall#NC Native Pollinator Plant#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#Coastal FAC#Piedmont Mountains FAC#bird friendly#food source hard mast fruit#butterfly friendly#bee friendly#Audubon#wavy-lined emerald butterfly#stormwater demo garden orange co#wildflower#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Solidago
    Species:
    rugosa
    Family:
    Asteraceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Eastern Canada to U.S.A
    Fire Risk Rating:
    medium flammability
    Wildlife Value:
    This plant supports Wavy-lined Emerald (Synchlora aerata) larvae. Flowers are attractive to butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. Songbirds eat the seeds. Members of the genus Solidago support the following specialized bees: Andrena (Callandrena s.l.) asteris, Andrena (Callandrena s.l.) braccata, Andrena (Cnemidandrena) canadensis, Andrena (Cnemidandrena) hirticincta, Andrena (Cnemidandrena) nubecula, Andrena (Callandrena s.l.) simplex, Perdita (Perdita) octomaculata, Melissodes (Eumelissodes) fumosus, Colletes simulans, and Colletes solidaginis.
    Play Value:
    Wildlife Food Source
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    Rough-Leaf Goldenrod is moderately deer resistant.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Native Plant
    Wildflower
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Achene
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Bullet-shaped achene with a short tuft of hairs at the tip. Displays from September to November.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Panicle
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Radial
    Tubular
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Arching spires of yellow flowers appear from August to October. Each individual flower is tiny with 4-8 rays surrounding 4-8 tubular disc flowers.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Rough
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Crenate
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    4-inch by 1.5-inch medium to dark green leaves with toothed margins are roughly hairy and ovate to lanceolate in shape. The deep veins give it a wrinkled appearance.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Green
    Red/Burgundy
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Round
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    Rough hairy often unbranched stems are light green to brownish red.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Pond
    Riparian
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Rain Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Songbirds
    Specialized Bees
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Wet Soil