Slender Goldentop Euthamia caroliniana
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Euthamia microcephala
- Euthamia microphylla
- Euthamia minor
- Euthamia tenuifolia
- Euthamia tenuifolia var. tenuifolia
- Solidago caroliniana
- Solidago microcephala
- Solidago microphylla
- Solidago minor
- Solidago tenuifolia
- Phonetic Spelling
- yoo-THAY-mee-uh kair-oh-lin-ee-AN-uh
- Description
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Slender Goldentop is a native herbaceous perennial in the Asteraceae family found in the coastal and, more rarely, in the Piedmont areas of North Carolina. Its native habitat is moist to wet areas in boggy edges, ditches, roadsides, poorly drained areas, and open woodlands. The plant has a fine texture. grass-like leaves with tiny dots, and soft yellow flowers with a long bloom season from late summer to early winter. It is readily identified by its multi-branched inflorescence of hundreds of very small flower heads and abundant, skinny leaves. It is a favorite of our native bees. Slender Goldentop spreads by rhizomes to form attractive clumps, although it can become weedy if ignored.
Slender Goldentop tolerates most soils, except dry ones, prefers acidic and sandy environments, and will grow in full sun to partial shade. To encourage blossoms, remove spent flowers. It can be best used in naturalized areas, native/pollinator gardens, or at the edges of ponds, streams, bogs.
The Goldenrod family has been wrongfully accused of causing hay fever. Hay fever is actually an allergic reaction to wind-borne pollen from ragweed.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No known insect or disease problems, although leaf rust can be an occasional problem. Divide every 2 to 3 years to control growth.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Euthamia
- Species:
- caroliniana
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern and Northeastern United States, including North Carolina
- Distribution:
- AL , CT , DE , FL , GA , IL , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , PA , RI , SC , VA , WI , WV
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts bees and butterflies. Bees suck nectar or collect pollen. A special value for native bees.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- drought
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Dense
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Fine
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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:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Winter
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae), although it is often, incorrectly, described as an achene.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Winter
- Flower Shape:
- Radial
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flowers bloom from August to December. Tiny, bright yellow, daisy-like flowers bloom from late summer to early winter, borne in dense, erect, flat-topped terminal clusters atop stiff, broad-leaved, hairy stems.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Basel leaves are small, narrow, and look a little like grass. They have one vein and also resin dots. There are alternate and basal leaves.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Angular
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Stems are 1-3 feet tall, branched above the middle, angled, and glabrous or pubescent.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Compaction
- Deer
- Drought
