Goldenrods

Anise-scented Goldenrod Lance-leaved Goldenrod Slender Goldenrod Gray Goldenrod

What are they?

Goldenrods are classic North American plants with a wide range of species found throughout much of the continent. Their showy stands of bright yellow flowers provide a valuable food source for many insects throughout late summer and into early autumn. As well as the classic, wandlike goldenrods, this group includes those species with broad, spreading heads which are now placed in the genus Euthamia.

Where are they found?

Several species of goldenrod form large, showy stands in old fields and along roadsides but some are more delicate denizens of shady woodland, while others love sandy coastal areas.

Identification

A group that instills fear in many a heart, the goldenrods can be notoriously difficult to identify, but Cape May has a manageable number of species and they are not too difficult so long as the whole plant is taken into account. Remember to check leaves and stems for hairiness, check the shape of the flower spike and any attendant bracts and study the leaves carefully, especially the arrangement of veins.

Slender Fragrant Goldenrod Euthamia caroliniana

(Slender Godentop) Widespread and common throughout Cape May along field edges, dry roadsides, tracksides and well-vegetated dunes. A rather variable species now as several formerly-recognized species have been lumped under this name - Cape May plants formerly included Solidago microcephala and Solidago tenuifolia. Readily told by it slightly twisted, willowy leaves and shock of yellow foamy flowers, much favored by butterflies. Flowers August to October.


Habit	Close-up of flat-topped flower head	Flower buds very narrow	Leaves curled and twisted

Lance-leaved Goldenrod Euthamia graminifolia

(Flat-top Goldentop) Less common than Slender Fragrant Goldenrod and larger than it. Not uncommon though, in old fields and woodland edges with some fine stands at Villas WMA for example. Flowers late July to October.


Habit	Flowers slightly broader than above species	Leaves willow-like	Stems grooved and fuzzy with short hairs

Slender Goldenrod Solidago erecta

(Showy Goldenrod) A delicate species, usually only one to two feet high with flowers in a single narrow spike. Not uncommon along powerline cuts through woodland and other shady edge habitats, but easily overlooked unless present in good numbers. Flowers August to early October.


Flowers in a single, narrow spike	Leaves often curled	Leaves with a network of veins	Stems more or less hairless

Downy Goldenrod Solidago puberula

Not uncommon along dry, sandy powerline cuts through woodland. Flowers August to early October. Similar to Slender Goldenrod but with bristly stems and leaf edges.


Flowers may be in a branched spike	Flowers may be in a single, narrow spike	Leaves with bristly margins	Stems bristly

Blue-stemmed Goldenrod Solidago caesia

A plant of drier woodland edge in the southern half of the county. Flowers September to October.


Habit	Flowers with showy petals	Leaf	Stem smooth with pale 'bloom'

Atlantic Goldenrod Solidago arguta

Found in dry, sandy soil in the north of the county. Flowers September to October. A large-leaved species, loosely resembling the more familiar Seaside Goldenrod but leaves not fleshy.


Habit, with broad, many-branched head	Flowers close-up	Leaves smooth with winged stems	Stems hairless

Seaside Goldenrod Solidago sempervirens

One of the most familiar goldenrods in Cape May County, being abundant along dunes, beaches and barrier islands. Salt and drought tolerant with thick, fleshy leaves that store water. Much favored by Monarch butterflies on migration. Flowers September to late October.


Habit, with typical broad, many-branched head	Flower petals broader than on most other species	Leaves smooth with no marginal teeth	Leaves thick and fleshy in cross-section

Rough-stemmed Goldenrod Solidago rugosa

(Wrinkle-leaved Goldenrod) A rather variable species in overall appearance but usually easily told by its strongly crinkled (rugose) leaves. Flower heads can be rather dense, but are usually open, with long, spreading side arms. Widespread in less disturbed fields, woodland edge and roadsides. Flowers August to November.


Habit, with willowy, arching branches	Flowers densely crowded in flat, narrow heads	Leaves with well-indented veins	Broad, leafy bracts on flowering branches

Pine Barren Goldenrod Solidago fistulosa

Largely a Pine Barrens species, this plant can also be found on field edges and in grassy, old fields well south into Cape May County. It can be found quite readily at Villas WMA and is easily told by the broad, leafy bracts on the lower part of the flowering branches. Flowers August to September.


Flower head has long, graceful side branches	Fully open flowers	Broad, leafy flower bracts and downy stems	Leaves are broad-based and strongly clasping the stem, giving a laddered effect

Anise-scented Goldenrod Solidago odora

An easily-identified species with its smooth, shiny leaves which can further be told by its distinctive scent of anise (though to me it has a slight petroleum smell to it). Quite common in old fields, roadsides and woodland edge. Flowers mid-July to early October.


Habit	Flowering branches with narrow, curled bracts	Leaves smooth and shiny	Stems with short, downy hairs

Tall Goldenrod Solidago altissima

A stout species which spreads to form large colonies in old fields and on roadsides. The broad tolerance of this species can make it very variable in appearance, with colonies of one- to two-foot high stems in regularly cut over areas and tall, ragged stems of over six feet in untouched, weedy corners. Very common and often a dominant plant in much of Cape May south of the canal. Flowers August to October. Formerly considered a variety of Canadian Goldenrod Solidago canadensis


Tall, top-heavy stems in uncut field corners	Smaller flower head typical of cut-over areas	Leaves typically have a few, uneven teeth and three main veins	Stems densely downy with pale hairs

Gray Goldenrod Solidago nemoralis

Old fields and meadows, woodland edges and other grassy places; usually on drier soils. Flowers August to October. Generally a low-growing species. The grayish hairs on the rough stems give this species its English name, but the plant doesn't really look noticeably grayer than several other hairy species.


Habit	Flower spike	Leaves small and stiff	Stems densely downy with grayish hairs

Cape May Plants An Identification Guide

Goldenrods

What are they?

Where are they found?

Identification

Species List

Cape May Plants
An Identification Guide