Showy goldenrod facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Showy goldenrod |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| The showy goldenrod, Solidago speciosa var. erecta | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Solidago
|
| Species: |
speciosa
|
The showy goldenrod, also known by its scientific name Solidago speciosa, is a beautiful flowering plant found in North America. It belongs to the sunflower family, which includes many well-known flowers like sunflowers and daisies. This plant is native to parts of Canada and the United States.
Contents
About the Showy Goldenrod
The showy goldenrod is a type of perennial herb. This means it lives for more than two years and its soft stem dies back in winter, but its roots stay alive underground to grow again next spring. It can grow quite tall, sometimes reaching up to 200 centimeters (about 6 feet) high!
What It Looks Like
This plant grows from a thick underground stem called a caudex. A single showy goldenrod plant can have as many as five stems growing up from the ground. Each of these stems can produce up to 300 small, bright yellow flower heads. These flowers are what give the plant its "goldenrod" name and its "showy" appearance.
Where It Grows
You can find the showy goldenrod in the province of Ontario in central Canada. In the United States, it grows across a wide area. This includes the eastern and central parts of the country, from the Atlantic coast all the way west to the Great Plains. Its range stretches from states like Maine in the northeast down to Georgia in the southeast (though it's not found in Delaware). You can also see it as far west as Texas, Nebraska, and the Dakotas.
Different Types of Showy Goldenrod
There are a couple of main types, or varieties, of the showy goldenrod:
- Solidago speciosa var. rigidiuscula: This type is mostly found in the western parts of the plant's range.
- Solidago speciosa var. speciosa: This type is more common in the eastern parts of where the plant grows.
