Sweet Goldenrod is found in open woods and savannahs in coastal states from New Hampshire south to Florida and over to east Texas, and inland as far as Missouri. (In northern Florida there is a separate subspecies, Chapmanii.) It occurs in most of the counties of NC. Sweet Goldenrod grows to 2-3 feet in height and 1-2 feet across, with an anise or licorice scent, released by its leaves when crushed, that readily differentiates it from all its Solidago cousins. It tolerates poor, dry soils and light shade, but performs best in full sun and is a graceful presence in both the sunny garden and for difficult dry, shaded woodland garden locations. Bright golden flowers appear in August-September in orderly rows on the upper side of the plume branches. It is well behaved, unaggressive and drought tolerant, and the sessile leaves even provide fresh flavor for tea. Like other Goldenrods, Sweet Goldenrod attracts a range of flying critters to the yard, birds to butterflies to bees, providing high quality nutrition for a range of insect pollinators. And just in case you missed the memo, Goldenrods do not cause Hay Fever — that is a response to windborne pollen from species such as Ragweed.
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Solidago odora
Key Info
Scientific Name: Solidago odora Aiton spp. odora
Common Names: Sweet Goldenrod, Anise-scented Goldenrod, Fragrant Goldenrod, Blue Mountain Tea
Family Names: Asteraceae (Composite, or Daisy Family)
Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
Flower Color: Yellow
Additional Info
Habit: Slender, upright perennial wildflower with glossy, branched, downy green or reddish stems and anise-scented foliage. Hairs on the stems are in distinct vertical lines (a diagnostic character). Plants are mostly clump-forming but can expand slowly from short rhizomes.
Height: 2-4'
Spread: 1-2'
Soil Conditions: Medium to dry, well drained, acidic, sandy, loamy, clay or even gravelly soils.
Leaves: Leaves are dark green and glossy, to 4 inches long x 3⁄4 inch wide, alternate, sessile, entire, lance-shaped, with parallel veins, untoothed and marked with translucent dots. They are smooth beneath but dotted with glands. Foliage releases a licorice or anise scent when crushed.
Flowers (or reproductive structures: The inflorescence is a yellow, pyramidal panicle of flowers about as wide as it is tall, up to 7 inches long. The individual ¼-inch blossoms appear in crowded rows along only the upper sides of the plume branchlets. Each flower has 3-4 ray florets surrounding a similar number of disc florets.
Fruit: Florets mature into small achenes crowned by tufts of hair.
Natural Distribution: Indigenous to dry open woods, savannas, sandy pinelands, sandhills, pine barrens, old fields and other disturbed sites in the eastern U.S. This species thrives in sites that are subjected to controlled burns.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 4 to 10
USDA Wetland Indicator Status in NC: Not available.
Pollination: Bees, wasps, butterflies and other insects.
Wildlife Connections: Attracts butterflies, bees, ladybugs, lacewings, hoverflies and other beneficial insects which rely on Goldenrods as a major food source. Goldenrods are among the most important late-season pollen and nectar sources for native bees. (Goldenrod nectar has a high sugar content.) Beekeepers often use Goldenrods as the primary food source for winter.
Propagation: Increase by seed or by division.