Solidago caesia L.
Wreath goldenrod, blue-stemmed goldenrod, early goldenrod
Kingdom Plantae Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom Tracheobionta Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division Magnoliophyta Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class Magnoliopsida Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass Asteridae A large class that encompasses asters
Order Asterales Flowering plants with a central disk flower and surrounding petals, like daisies
Family Asteraceae The aster family, which also includes daisies and sunflowers; from the Greek ἀστήρ, “star,” for the star-shaped flowers
Genus Solidago From Latin solido, “to make whole or heal,” because it was believed these species had healing properties
Species caesia “Light blue,” from the light bluish-gray stem coloring on mature plants
About plant names...
Wreath goldenrods are natives of North America. For a comparison chart of some of the varieties of goldenrods, see
Solidago .
Identification: Plants are 1-3′ (30-91 cm) tall, relatively small for
goldenrods. They have a purplish stem that may be covered with a whitish bloom. It is green when young,
becoming blue-gray or purplish-gray with age. Single stems are common, though there may be a few branches.
Leaves are up to 5″ (12 cm) × 1″ (2.5 cm) at the base, and smaller further up the stem. They are lance-like
("lanceolate ")
in shape, sometimes thickening more in the center and becoming more oval ("ovate "). Each
leaf has a single prominent central vein.
Flowerheads appear in clusters along the stem, often with a larger cluster at the top; flowering is from August to October. Flowers are even around each stem , not just on one side.
Individual flowers are ⅛-¼″ (4-6.3 mm) in diameter, with 1-6 ray petals and 3-6 disc florets.
Edibility: Not edible.
Online References:
Illinois Wildflowers
Plants.ces.ncsu.edu
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
EFloras
References:
Newcomb, Lawrence, Morrison, Gordon (Illus.), Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide , Little, Brown and Company, 1977 , p. 450
Peterson, Roger Tory, McKenny, Margaret, Peterson Field Guides: Wildflowers—Northeastern and North Central North America , Houghton Mifflin, 1968 , p. 200
Thierer, John W., Niering, William A, Olmstead, Nancy C., National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers, Eastern Region , Alfred A. Knopf, 2001 , p. 322, 415
Brandenburg, David M., National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Wildflowers of North America , Andrew Stuart Publishing, Inc., 2010 , p. 136
9/17/2023 · Sprague Pond Preserve, Basin Preserve, Phippsburg, Maine · ≈ 6 × 10″ (16 × 24 cm)
9/27/2018 · Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 20 cm)
9/26/2010 · Doane’s Falls, Royalston, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 15 cm) ID is uncertain
9/15/2012 · Mt. Wachusett, Princeton, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 14 cm)
9/7/2021 · Tarbox Preserve, Topsham, Maine · ≈ 4 × 6″ (10 × 16 cm)
9/14/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 7″ (11 × 17 cm)
9/14/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 9″ (14 × 22 cm)
9/17/2014 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 6 × 9″ (15 × 22 cm)
9/14/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts · ≈ 11 × 7″ (27 × 18 cm) ID is uncertain
9/9/2010 · Pine Meadow Conservation Trust Land, Groton Harvard Road, Ayer, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 11″ (18 × 27 cm) ID is uncertain
9/14/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 12″ (20 × 31 cm)
5/22/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts · ≈ 2 × 1′ (62 × 41 cm)
9/6/2010 · Henry E. Cowdrey Nature Center, Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 19 cm)
9/17/2023 · Sprague Pond Preserve, Basin Preserve, Phippsburg, Maine · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 20 cm)
Older scientific or horticultural names
Solidago axillaris Pursh
Solidago caesia L. var. axillaris (Pursh) A. Gray
Solidago caesia L. var. caesia
Solidago caesia description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 20 Sep 2023.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.
9/17/2023 · Sprague Pond Preserve, Basin Preserve, Phippsburg, Maine · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 20 cm)
9/6/2010 · Henry E. Cowdrey Nature Center, Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 19 cm)
9/17/2023 · Sprague Pond Preserve, Basin Preserve, Phippsburg, Maine · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)
9/7/2021 · Tarbox Preserve, Topsham, Maine · ≈ 4½ × 7″ (11 × 16 cm)
9/17/2023 · Sprague Pond Preserve, Basin Preserve, Phippsburg, Maine · ≈ 6 × 10″ (16 × 24 cm)
9/27/2018 · Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 7″ (12 × 18 cm)
9/7/2021 · Tarbox Preserve, Topsham, Maine · ≈ 4 × 6″ (10 × 15 cm)
9/26/2010 · Doane’s Falls, Royalston, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 14 cm) ID is uncertain
9/15/2012 · Mt. Wachusett, Princeton, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 14 cm)
9/6/2010 · Henry E. Cowdrey Nature Center, Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 11″ (18 × 27 cm)
9/14/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 19 cm)
9/7/2021 · Tarbox Preserve, Topsham, Maine · ≈ 4 × 6″ (10 × 16 cm)
10/13/2015 · ≈ 5 × 8″ (12 × 19 cm)
9/9/2010 · Pine Meadow Conservation Trust Land, Groton Harvard Road, Ayer, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 7″ (11 × 17 cm) ID is uncertain
9/9/2010 · Pine Meadow Conservation Trust Land, Groton Harvard Road, Ayer, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 7″ (11 × 17 cm) ID is uncertain
Range:
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