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.
↑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
↑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.
↑Links & External Resources
• Canada Goldenrod | Fire Effects Information System (FEIS) (About This Site)
• Solidago canadensis (Canada Goldenrod)‡ | Illinois Wildflowers (About This Site)
• Solidago canadensis (Canada Goldenrod)‡ | USDA PLANTS Database (About This Site)
• Solidago canadensis | Go Botany (About This Site)
• Solidago canadensis (Canadian Goldenrod) | Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder (About This Site)
• Solidago canadensis (Canadian goldenrod)‡ | CABI Invasive Species Compendium (About This Site)
• Solidago canadensis | Biota of North America Project (BONAP) (About This Site)
• Solidago canadensis‡ | NatureServe Explorer (About This Site)
• Solidago canadensis | Flora of North America (About This Site)
• Canada Goldenrod | Maryland Biodiversity Project (About This Site)
• Solidago canadensis (Canada Goldenrod) | Minnesota Wildflowers (About This Site)
• Solidago canadensis L. var. canadensis (Canada Goldenrod) | Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora (About This Site)
• Solidago canadensis L. var. hargeri Fern. (Harger's Goldenrod) | Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora (About This Site)
Different Taxonomic Treatments
‡ These links refer to a larger population than covered by this page.