Summary ²

Solidago flexicaulis, the broadleaved goldenrod, or zigzag goldenrod, is a North American species of herbaceous perennial plants in the sunflower family (Asteraceae). It is native to the eastern and central parts of the United States and Canada, from Nova Scotia west to Ontario and the Dakotas, and south as far as Alabama and Louisiana. It grows in a variety of habitats including mesic upland forests, well drained floodplain forests, seepage swamp hummocks, and rocky woodlands.

Description ³

Family:
Asteraceae (Aster)

Height:
1 to 3 feet

Leaves:
Leaves (up to 5” long) are oval-shaped with a pointed tip and coarse teeth, becoming smaller as they ascend the stem. Stems may appear to zigzag between the leaves.

Flower:
Yellow flowers (around ⅜” across) grow in clusters (1-2” wide) at leaf joints along the upper half of the stem.

Bloom time:
August-October

Nicknames:
Broad-leaved Goldenrod

Habitat:
Zigzag Goldenrod does best in partial shade, in dry to well-drained, fertile, loamy soils. It is commonly found in clearings and edges of deciduous woodlands, as well as along wooded slopes and streams.

Wildlife Benefits:
Pollen source for many species of bees, wasps, flies, and butterflies. Food source for deer and a wide variety of insects, small mammals, songbirds, and gamebirds.

Can I plant this in my garden?
This plant does well in shady areas with fertile soils that are low in moisture. It does best in sheltered areas and in soils that are high in organic matter, and generally thrives in higher quality sites. It can spread rapidly via rhizomes under the correct conditions.

References:
https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/flower/zigzag-goldenrod
https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/woodland/plants/zz_goldenrod.htm

Range ³

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District, all rights reserved, uploaded by Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District
2. Adapted by Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solidago_flexicaulis
3. (c) Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• eFloras.org
• Flora of North America (beta)
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• Go Botany
• HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants
• IPNI (with links to POWO, WFO, and BHL)
• Maryland Biodiversity Project
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• SEINet Symbiota portals
• Tropicos
• USDA PLANTS database
• VASCAN by Canadensys
• World Flora Online

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