Solidago caesia (Wreath goldenrod)

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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)

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.

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

Range:

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