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Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis L.)

There are numerous inconsistencies in how this taxon is treated by different authorities. Many older sources treat tall goldenrod (Solidago altissima) as a subspecies of this one; we treat them as separate species along with most modern authorities. Sources reporting this species as occurring in the southeast mostly are referring to what we call S. altissima. Many sources, including USDA PLANTS, treat Western canada goldenrod (Solidago lepida) as a variety of this species, Solidago canadensis L. var. lepida. What USDA PLANTS calls S. canadensis var. salebrosa, we also group in with S. lepida; some authorities call it S. lepida var. salebrosa. The taxon USDA PLANTS calls S. canadensis var. gilvocanescens, we lump in with S. altissima as Solidago altissima ssp. gilvocanescens.

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Summary
Range
Similar Plants
Notes
Links
Photos

Photo © scaup, CC BY 4.0.

↑Summary

One of the most common and widespread goldenrods of northeastern North America.

↑Range - Expand

Legend	Color
Native
Native or Not Present

This tentative map is based on our own research. It may have limited data on Canada and/or Mexico, and there is some subjectivity in our assignment of plants as introduced vs. expanded. Read more in this blog post.

Although this plant occurs somewhere in each of these regions, it may only occur in a small part of some or all of them.

↑Similar Plants

Tall Goldenrod (Solidago altissima)
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↑Notes

Inconsistencies in the reported range of this species reflect the fact that some authorities include the widely-distributed S. altissima as a subspecies whereas others treat it as a separate species. Even the USDA's own range maps reflect this inconsistency, sometimes on a state-by-state basis, reflecting different standards used in the data reported by different states.

BONAP has more consistent range maps for both species, reflecting the treatment of each as distinct species.