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| California goldenrod – Solidago velutina ssp. californica (Solidago californica) in Mother Nature's Backyard |
By
September, the garden is awash with tan, pale gold and rust-orange as grasses
dry, buckwheats go to seed and many plants enjoy their fall dormant
season. In this symphony of browns,
members of the sunflower family add a note of pure golden yellow. One of our personal favorites is the
California goldenrod, Solidago velutina ssp.
californica.
California
goldenrod is among several goldenrods native to western Los Angeles
county. Solidago confinis (Solidago spectabilis var. confinis), the Southern goldenrod, once flourished
from the coast to the San Gabriel and Verdugo Mountains. The Western flat-topped goldenrod (Euthamia occidentalis) covered
seasonally moist areas throughout California, including at the Dominguez Slough
(currently the Gardena Willows Wetland Preserve).
The
California goldenrod itself is still widespread throughout California. Locally it can be found in the Santa Monica,
San Gabriel and Santa Susana Mountains, in Griffith Park and on Santa Catalina
Island. It grows in a number of
California plant communities including coastal sage scrub, chaparral, oak
woodlands and riparian forests/woodlands at elevations less than about 8000
ft. Generally, the areas are at least
seasonally moist, although they may be quite dry in summer.
For
many years California goldenrod was known as Solidago californica. In fact,
most of us still think of it by that name.
The Goldenrods, like other native plant species, have recently been re-evaluated
by genetic taxonomists. Similarities at
the DNA level suggest that many local variants, including the Arizona, Nevada
and California goldenrods, belong together in the species Solidago
velutina. So we’ll just have to get used to a new name
for an old favorite.
While
we’re on the topic of names, the name Solidago
is derived from the Latin ‘solido’ – to heal or make whole – referring to the
medicinal qualities of this genus. In
fact, California goldenrod is useful in several ways, including as a medicinal. We hope its many properties will make you
want to include it in your garden.
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| California goldenrod – Solidago velutina ssp. californica (Solidago californica) in Garden of Dreams, CSU Dominguez Hills, Carson CA |
California
goldenrod is a spreading perennial that dies back after blooming (late
fall/winter) and re-grows again in spring. A mature plant produces many upright stems,
2-4 ft tall and crowned with clusters of flowers. In general, plants that receive more light and
water – and those in clay soils - tend
to grow taller and more robust.
.jpg)
California
goldenrod leaves are alternate and become smaller and more elliptical the
further one moves up the stem. The lower
leaves are oblong, often toothed and clustered at the base of stems. The foliage varies from a medium green to
gray-green; some plants have leaves that are densely fuzzy. The
stems often have a tinge of red or purple.
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| California goldenrod – Solidago velutina ssp. californica (Solidago californica) against a fall sky |
California
goldenrod blooms in fall, from late August through October in our area. The
name ‘goldenrod’ well describes the arrangement of the flowers. The
small flowers are arranged in a wand-like arrangement at the ends of the stems,
creating a wall of golden yellow in a good year (above). On closer observation, the flowers are
actually small sunflower heads, complete with flat ray flowers and yellow central
disc flowers. There are literally
hundreds of small flower heads on each flowering stalk.
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| California goldenrod – Solidago velutina ssp. californica (Solidago californica) - flowers |
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| California goldenrod with Fig-eater Beetle and European Honey Bee |
If
you look closely at the picture above, you’ll note several common insect
visitors. The large green Figeater
beetle is likely eating the flowers or pollen.
For more on this interesting local beetle see: http://mother-natures-backyard.blogspot.com/2013/08/green-fig-beetle-figeater-beetle-green.html
The European Honey Bee is among the
many types of bees attracted to California goldenrod. In fact, the goldenrods are excellent
pollinator habitat plants. They bloom
in fall, when food can be scarce. Their
abundant flowers, with their tasty nectar and pollen, provide an important
source of food for adult pollinators and their offspring.
California
goldenrod can be a great educational resource for children and adults. Pull up a chair on a sunny day and you’ll
likely see an amazing array of insects.
You’ll first observe the fall flying butterflies like Skippers and Blues
– perhaps even a hummingbird or two. But
sit quietly and notice all the tiny insects, including numerous species of
native bees, flower flies, beetles and other insects. You may even find a spider waiting patiently
for insect prey. In fall, the California
goldenrod is its own little ecosystem, teeming with life.
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| Phidippus californicus – Jumping spider on California goldenrod |
In
late fall, California goldenrod produces copious fluffy seeds that spread by
wind. The seeds are eaten by finches and
other seed-eating birds, so we leave them on the plants awhile. When it’s time to tidy up in late fall or
early winter, cut your goldenrods back to just a few inches. They will sprout back revived and healthy in
the spring.
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| California goldenrod - ready for pruning back in late fall |
California
goldenrod is fairly easy to grow. It
likes full sun (and flowers best under these conditions) but tolerates light
shade and even works as a groundcover under tall trees. It does fine in most local soils and is
particularly well adapted to clay soils.
While quite drought tolerant, it stays green and blooms longer if given
occasional summer water. We grow
California goldenrod around our bubbler fountain, where it gets an occasional
splash. We’ve watered it three times
since May in our clay soils. The lower
leaves are beginning to turn brown in late August - but this has been a very
dry year indeed.
California
goldenrod is a spreader. The goldenrod
‘patch’ will increase in size each year, as the plant spreads via underground
stems (rhizomes). In our
experience, plants given only occasional
summer water spread rather slowly; they are easily contained by removing
unwanted stems in spring/summer. That
being said, this plant is an opportunist; like many local riparian plants it
will take advantage of available water and grow vigorously with regular irrigation. If worried by its propensity to spread, grow
California goldenrod in a contained area: a planter, small contained area or
even a large container.
Goldenrods
are used too infrequently in local gardens, perhaps because they are sometimes
viewed as weeds. They have an undeserved
reputation as allergens; in fact, the culprit is usually ragweed, a species
that blooms concurrently with the goldenrods.
At any rate, goldenrods are
unequalled in their ability to brighten up a fall garden. Given their size, they are best used contained
or mid-bed in a mixed planting with Yarrow, Erigerons, Asters, milkweeds,
native grasses and shrubs.
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| California goldenrod – Solidago velutina ssp. californica (Solidago californica) at base of solar fountain - Mother nature's Backyard |
Goldenrods
are a must for habitat gardens. They are
among the few fall-blooming native perennials, making them essential in gardens
too small for the larger shrub Sunflowers.
In addition, California goldenrod
is a very useful plant. Very young leaves
& shoots can be used as cooked greens in spring. Leaves can be dried and used as a soothing
tea.
Goldenrods
have been used medicinally where ever they grow. Native Californians use powdered, dried
leaves as a disinfecting powder for skin sores, wounds, burns and rashes. A decoction (tea) made from leaves was
traditionally used for feminine hygiene, as a wash for skin sores and to
prevent hair loss.
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| Yarn dyed with California goldenrod – Solidago velutina ssp. californica (Solidago californica) |
Crafters
also find good use for goldenrods. The
flowering stems make good dried (pressed) flowers that retain their color for
years. Flowering stems and leaves can
be used to make lovely soft yellow dyes that can be used to color wool, silk or
cotton yarn or cloth.
In summary,
California goldenrod is a lovely plant that attracts many insect visitors in
fall. It has many useful properties and
is a joy to behold in the fall garden.
We hope you’ll consider this plant when you visit the fall native plant
sales!
For a
gardening information sheet see: http://www.slideshare.net/cvadheim/gardening-sheet-solidago-californica
For more
pictures of this plant see: http://www.slideshare.net/cvadheim/solidago-californica-web-show
For plant
information sheets on other native plants see: http://nativeplantscsudh.blogspot.com/p/gallery-of-native-plants_17.html
We
welcome your comments (below). You can
also send your questions to: mothernaturesbackyard10@gmail.com
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