Sweet goldenrod facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sweet goldenrod
Scientific classification
Genus:	Solidago
Species:	odora
Synonyms
Synonymy Aster odorus (Aiton) Kuntze 1791 not All. 1785 Solidago odora var. inodora A.Gray Solidago suaveolens Schöpf Aster commutatus Kuntze 1891 not (Torr. & A.Gray) A.Gray 1884 Solidago chapmanii Torr. & A.Gray Solidago odora var. chapmanii (A.Gray) Cronquist

Solidago odora, also known as the sweet goldenrod or anisescented goldenrod, is a special plant found in North America. It belongs to the sunflower family, just like sunflowers and daisies! This plant is famous for its lovely smell, which reminds many people of licorice.

About Sweet Goldenrod

Sweet goldenrod is a type of goldenrod plant. It gets its name from its sweet, licorice-like scent. If you gently crush its leaves, you can smell this unique fragrance. The plant usually blooms from July all the way through October, showing off its bright yellow flowers.

Where Sweet Goldenrod Grows

This plant is native to North America. You can find it growing in many parts of the United States and Mexico. In the U.S., it grows in every state along the coast, from New Hampshire down to Florida. It also grows further inland in states like Ohio, Missouri, and Oklahoma. In Mexico, it's found in places like Veracruz.

There are two main types, or subspecies, of sweet goldenrod:

• Solidago odora subsp. odora - This type is found in most of the areas where sweet goldenrod grows.
• Solidago odora subsp. chapmanii (Gray) Semple - This type is special because it only grows in Florida.

How People Use Sweet Goldenrod

For a very long time, people have used sweet goldenrod for different purposes. It has been used in traditional medicine, especially by the Cherokee people. This means they used the plant based on their knowledge passed down through generations.

One common way people use sweet goldenrod is by making tea from its leaves. Because the leaves smell like licorice when crushed, the tea also has a pleasant flavor.