Goldenrod facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Goldenrod |
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| Canadian Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) | |
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Astereae
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Solidago
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Goldenrods are a group of about 150 types of weedy herbs. They belong to the plant genus called Solidago. If you touch goldenrod a lot, some people might get allergies. This is why some florists sometimes change their jobs.
People can eat parts of goldenrods. Many kinds of Lepidoptera, like butterflies and moths, also eat them.
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What are Goldenrods Like?
There are about 100 types of goldenrod plants that grow back year after year. Most of them are found in North America. You can see them in meadows, fields, along roads, and in empty areas. A few types also grow in Mexico, South America, and Eurasia. Some American goldenrod species were brought to Europe about 250 years ago.
Many goldenrod types look very similar, making them hard to tell apart. Goldenrods have bright, golden yellow flowers that bloom in late summer. Because of this, people often wrongly blame them for causing hay fever. The pollen that causes hay fever mostly comes from Ragweed (Ambrosia sp.). Ragweed blooms at the same time as goldenrod.
Ragweed pollen is light and carried by the wind. Goldenrod pollen is too heavy and sticky to be blown far by the wind. This means insects, not wind, usually carry goldenrod pollen.
Goldenrods are easy to spot because of their golden flower clusters. These clusters have hundreds of small flower heads. Some look like spikes, while others have flowers growing along the stem.
They have thin stems. These stems are usually smooth, but S. canadensis has hairs on its upper stem. Goldenrods can grow to be between 60 centimeters (about 2 feet) and 1.5 meters (about 5 feet) tall.
How People Use Goldenrods
Goldenrod plants are a food source for the larvae (young) of some Lepidoptera species. When an insect tries to invade the goldenrod, the plant sometimes forms a tough, leathery bump around it. This bump is called a gall. It helps keep the insect in a small part of the plant.
Some types of wasps, called parasitoid wasps, can find these galls. They lay their eggs inside the insect after breaking through the gall. Woodpeckers have also learned to open these galls. They eat the insect that is hiding inside, which might also have wasp eggs in it.
Goldenrods in Gardens
People use goldenrods for decorations and to make tea. In some places, goldenrods are seen as a sign of good luck. However, some people think of them as weeds.
Goldenrods are mostly short-day plants. This means they bloom in late summer and early fall when the days get shorter. They produce a lot of sweet liquid called nectar if there is enough moisture before they bloom. They also need warm, sunny weather during their blooming time.
Honey made from goldenrods is often dark and has a strong taste. This is because it often mixes with nectar from other plants. But when there is a lot of goldenrod nectar, the honey can be light in color and have a spicy taste. While bees are making the honey, it might have a strong smell and taste. However, the finished honey is much milder.
British gardeners started using goldenrod in gardens long before Americans did. Goldenrod only became more popular in American gardens in the 1980s. There is a plant called x Solidaster, which is a mix of goldenrod and aster. It is less messy and has pale yellow flowers. It is also good for dried flower arrangements.
Solidago canadensis was brought to Central Europe as a garden plant. Now, it grows wild there. In Germany, it is seen as an invasive species. This means it spreads easily and can take over areas where native plants usually grow.
Goldenrod can also be a companion plant. This means it can help other plants by attracting helpful insects or keeping some pests away.
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Goldenrods in Industry
The famous inventor Thomas Edison experimented with goldenrod. He wanted to see if he could make rubber from it, since goldenrod naturally contains rubber. Edison found a way to grow goldenrod plants to get the most rubber from them.
His experiments resulted in a plant that was 12 feet tall. This plant could give as much as 12 percent rubber. The rubber made using Edison's method was strong and lasted a long time. The tires on the Model T car, which his friend Henry Ford gave him, were made from goldenrod rubber. Even after more than 50 years, examples of this rubber can still be found in Edison's laboratory. They are still stretchy and have not rotted.
Edison shared his research with the U.S. government a year before he passed away. However, goldenrod rubber was never used beyond the experimental stage.
Goldenrods in Medicine
One type of goldenrod, Solidago virgaurea, has been used in traditional medicine for kidney health. It is thought to help the kidneys make more urine, reduce swelling, calm spasms, and fight germs. This makes it useful for kidney swelling or irritation, especially when there are infections or kidney stones. It is often used with other herbs to help the urinary system even more.
The way it helps the kidneys make more urine can also help break down kidney stones. It does this by making their parts less concentrated and stopping new stones from forming. This is part of herbal medicine. Another type, Solidago odora, is also used for health issues like too much mucus, kidney and bladder cleansing, kidney stones, colds, and digestion.
Goldenrod's Cultural Importance
The goldenrod is the state flower of two U.S. states. It became the state flower of Kentucky on March 16, 1926. It also became the state flower of Nebraska on April 4, 1895.
Goldenrod used to be the state flower of Alabama. It was chosen on September 6, 1927. But later, Alabama changed its state flower to the camellia. Recently, goldenrod was named the state wildflower for South Carolina.
In the Midwest during the mid-1900s, people used to say that when the goldenrod bloomed, it was almost time to go back to school. The flowers appeared in mid- to late August, which was just before the traditional start of school after Labor Day.
Images for kids
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Solidago canadensis in Kerala
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Solidago nemoralis
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Goldenrod and a visiting Cerceris wasp
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Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) essential oil
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