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Goldenrod Solidago shortii

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
so-li-DAY-go SHORT-ee-eye
Description

Solidago shortii, or Short's Goldenrod, is a herbaceous perennial wildflower and one of the many Goldenrod species. Short's Goldenrod grows best in moist, gravelly, well-drained soils that contains some loam or decaying organic matter in full sun or part shade. For maximum floral display, you should site this plant in full sun. Short's Goldenrod spreads by rhizomes to form colonies, but much less aggressively than other Goldenrod species. The plants will also self seed, but pollination is required to form viable seeds. Cross-pollination occurs by insects (soldier beetle is reportedly a primary pollinator).

Short's Goldenrod habitat is in open rocky areas such as limestone glades, rocky slopes, roadside ledges, wood margins, fields and along river banks. Tiny yellow flowers bloom in clusters of 50 to 150 from late summer to early fall attracting pollinators, such as bees and butterflies. The plants have a tendency to flop over while in bloom.

The plant is currently listed as endangered on the Federal Endangered Species list. The only known populations of this Goldenrod species today are in the Blue Lick Springs area of northeastern Kentucky and along the Blue River in Harrison-Crawford State Forest in southern Indiana. 'Solar Cascade' is a cultivar of Short's Goldenrod developed by the Cincinnati Zoo Botanical Garden Native Endangered Plant Program as part of its efforts to save the species. 

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems

No known serious insect or disease problems. The plant, once established, is deer and drought tolerant.

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See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Solar Cascade'
'Solar Cascade'
Tags:
#fall flowers#yellow flowers#native perennials#fall interest#endangered#fire medium flammability#summer flowers#pollinator plant#native wildflower#larval host plant#butterfly friendly#wavy-lined emerald butterfly#perennial#wildflower#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Solar Cascade'
'Solar Cascade'
Tags:
#fall flowers#yellow flowers#native perennials#fall interest#endangered#fire medium flammability#summer flowers#pollinator plant#native wildflower#larval host plant#butterfly friendly#wavy-lined emerald butterfly#perennial#wildflower#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Solidago
    Species:
    shortii
    Family:
    Asteraceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Root Cutting
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Indiana and Kentucky
    Fire Risk Rating:
    medium flammability
    Wildlife Value:
    This plant supports Wavy-lined Emerald (Synchlora aerata) larvae. Attracts butterflies and other polinators. The soldier beetle is the primary polinator.
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    deer and drought resistant
    Dimensions:
    Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Wildflower
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Erect
    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:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Achene
    Fruit Description:
    Both the ray and disk florets can produce fertile achenes. These achenes are 2-3 mm. long and oblongoid in shape; they have small tufts of light brown hair at their apices. As a result, the achenes are distributed primarily by the wind.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Purple/Lavender
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Panicle
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Good Cut
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Petals:
    7 - 20 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Tiny yellow flowers bloom along upper stems in small axillary and terminal clusters from August to October. Flowers are attractive to bees and butterflies. Each flowerhead is about ¾–1" across, consisting of 10-20 ray florets that surround a similar number of disk florets. The petaloid rays of these flowerheads are lavender or pale blue-violet (rarely white), and they are individually linear-oblong in shape. The corollas of the disk florets are short-tubular with 5 minute lobes at their apices. Initially, these corollas are yellow, but they become reddish purple with age. On unusual specimens, these corollas are light pink to nearly white. At the base of each flowerhead, the overlapping green phyllaries (scaly floral bracts) are linear-lanceolate and glabrous to finely pubescent.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Lanceolate
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Leaves become gradually smaller as they ascend the stems. The petioles are very slender and about 1" long on the lower leaves, while the upper leaves are nearly sessile. The lower to middle leaves are lanceolate-ovate with indented bases, while the upper leaves are lanceolate with rounded bases. All leaves taper gradually into slender acute tips, while their margins are smooth and often slightly ciliate. Longest leaves are found near the middle of each stem. Basal and lower stem leaves usually wither prior to flowering.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Buds:
    Hairy
    Stem Form:
    Straight
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    Two to three foot tall stems, branching occasionally in the upper half. Erect, although the weight of the inflorescence often causes the entire plant to lean sideways. The slender stems are light green, terete, and either glabrous, sparsely pubescent, or hairy in lines.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought