Showy Goldenrod, Solidago speciosa Nutt., Native Minnesota Wildflower plant, Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden

Stems: In this Goldenrod, the inflorescence is a dense branched panicle that is taller than it is broad, at the top of an unbranched stem that can be from 8 to 60 inches high. Flowering branches of the panicle are held erect, not drooping or bending like most goldenrods. Roots may send up multiple stems which are smooth and usually reddish but the branches of the inflorescence can have fine hair. Leaves: The lance-shaped stiff leaves are usually without teeth, not hairy, and the uppers are much smaller. Leaves have a tapering base to the stem that appears like a short winged stalk. From the upper leaf axils below the inflorescence, small leaves may appear that look like wings. Flowers: The individual flowers have 6 to 8 yellow ray flowers, not all open at the same time, giving an unequal spacing look. The fertile disk flowers have a five lobed yellow corolla with out-flaring apex lobes and protruding stamens. The phyllaries (bracts) of the flower head are yellowish and slightly sticky. They are linear, but short and overlapping. Seeds are a dry achene with a fluffy white pappus for wind distribution. Roots are rhizomatous and fibrous. It grows best in full sun with dry to moderate moisture.

The genus name is from the Latin solidare, as the plants of this genus were known to "make whole". (see bottom of page). The species name means "showy".

	Plants of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden
	Common Name	Scientific Name	Plant Family	Garden Location	Prime Season
	Showy Goldenrod	Solidago speciosa Nutt.	Aster (Asteraceae)	Upland	Autumn
Other names and notes	Stems: In this Goldenrod, the inflorescence is a dense branched panicle that is taller than it is broad, at the top of an unbranched stem that can be from 8 to 60 inches high. Flowering branches of the panicle are held erect, not drooping or bending like most goldenrods. Roots may send up multiple stems which are smooth and usually reddish but the branches of the inflorescence can have fine hair. Leaves: The lance-shaped stiff leaves are usually without teeth, not hairy, and the uppers are much smaller. Leaves have a tapering base to the stem that appears like a short winged stalk. From the upper leaf axils below the inflorescence, small leaves may appear that look like wings. Flowers: The individual flowers have 6 to 8 yellow ray flowers, not all open at the same time, giving an unequal spacing look. The fertile disk flowers have a five lobed yellow corolla with out-flaring apex lobes and protruding stamens. The phyllaries (bracts) of the flower head are yellowish and slightly sticky. They are linear, but short and overlapping. Seeds are a dry achene with a fluffy white pappus for wind distribution. Roots are rhizomatous and fibrous. It grows best in full sun with dry to moderate moisture. The genus name is from the Latin solidare, as the plants of this genus were known to "make whole". (see bottom of page). The species name means "showy".