California goldenrod facts for kids

Quick facts for kids California goldenrod
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Genus:	Solidago
Species:	S. californica
Binomial name
Solidago californica Nutt. 1840
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Synonyms
Aster californicus (Nutt.) Kuntze 1891 not Less. 1831 Solidago velutina subsp. californica (Nutt.) Semple

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The Solidago californica, also known as the California goldenrod, is a type of goldenrod plant. It's a beautiful wild flower that grows naturally in western North America. You can find it from Oregon down through California and even into Baja California in Mexico.

This plant likes to grow in many different places. It can be found in oak woodlands, sunny valley grasslands, and even in chaparral areas, which are places with dense shrubs. Sometimes, it even pops up in areas where the ground has been disturbed, like along roadsides.

What Does California Goldenrod Look Like?

The California goldenrod is a plant that comes back every year. It grows from underground stems called rhizomes. These rhizomes help the plant spread and form new shoots.

How Tall Does It Get?

Its stem can grow quite tall, reaching up to 1.5 meters (about 5 feet). The stem is usually a bit hairy.

What About Its Leaves and Flowers?

The leaves are shaped like a spear and can be up to 14 centimeters (about 5.6 inches) long near the bottom of the plant. As you go up the stem, the leaves get smaller.

The flowers grow in a narrow cluster or series, often on one side of the stem. Each cluster has many small flower heads. These flower heads are made up of many tiny yellow disc florets in the center. Around these, there are usually up to 11 narrow yellow ray florets, which look like petals. Each ray floret is about half a centimeter (0.2 inches) long.