- Herb
- Food forest
- Bees and butterflies
- Edible flowers
- Edimentals
- Medicinal
Goldenrod
Solidago virgaurea
Herbaceous perennial with annual rods of clustered bright yellow flowers. Loved by insects.
PLANT TYPE Herb
PLANT HABIT Perennial
USES Medicinal, Pollinators, Utility, Ornamental
DESCRIPTION
Tall herbaceous perennial with annual rods of clustered bright yellow flowers in mid to late Summer. Loved by insects including butterflies and honeybees.
Flowers and leaves are edible and both can be used to make a medicinal tea. Also makes a good cut flower and is used in commercial floristry.
All known as Solidago, Goldruthe, Woundwort, Aaron’s Rod, Blue Mountain Tea, Wound Weed
Flowers can be used as a dye for cloth and paper.
PRODUCT NOTES In a 7cm pot.
RECOMMENDED LOCATION Forest garden, Wildlife garden, Ornamental garden
Aspect Full sun
Height Up to 1.8m
Spread 1m
Hardiness Hardy in UK WInter
Management and care Cut back stems in Autumn to prevent self-sowing.
Origin/history
In its native state it grows in open woodland, grassland, cliffs and hedgerows. Traditionally used as a healer of wounds and broken bones (Solidago means ‘To make whole’). Today is is mainly used to treat urinary tract infections by modern herbalists (Reference: Hatfield’s Herbal). The great middle eastern warrior Saladin treasured Goldenrod as a medicine and is said to have introduced it into the Middle East.
