Goldenrod

A beautiful plant that is often mistaken for an allergenic weed, goldenrod dusts the landscape with a beautiful warm yellow color in mid-late summer. While it is beautiful to look at, it has some very practical forgotten uses.

Let’s take a look:

Plant Profile:

Scientific Name: Solidago sp.

Preferred Habitat: I generally find this plant on the edges of roads and forests, and in open fields and meadows.

Edible Parts: Leaves, flowers, seeds

Distribution: Nearly everywhere in North America

Harvest Season: Mid to late summer, sometimes through early fall.

Key Identifiers: Lance-shaped leaves with no lobes, dense clusters of bright yellow flowers with aster-like rays.

Toxic Look-Alikes: Species of Senecio can look similar, but the flowers are more sparse, larger, and look more like small yellow daisies.

Nutrition/Health:

While I don’t have specific nutrient facts, here are the health benefits I could find:

• High in antioxidants

• Boosts urinary tract health

• Fights certain seasonal allergies (like ragweed allergy)

• Fights sore throats

• Lowers oral inflammation

• Anti-fungal

• Goldenrod tea can break fevers

• Diuretic

• Lessens the effects of asthma, and prevents it

• Fights colds and flus

• Boosts kidney health

• Heals minor wounds

So clearly goldenrod is both abundant, and highly underrated. Now, how do we use it?

I have typically drunk it as tea. I boil hot water, then steep the flowers/leaves in my cup for less than 10 minutes (more than 10 minutes brings out the bitter flavors) and it tastes somewhat mild and sweet. This is one of the best ways to take it medicinally, otherwise oils, soaps, and even cornbread can be made with goldenrod!

In Michigan there are several species of goldenrod, and some of them look very different from each other. I would advise you to check out your local state extension to see what species grow near you. Some common species are:

• Solidago canadensis

• Solidago rugosa

• Solidago gigentea

And each have slightly different characteristics. As I mentioned briefly above, goldenrod is often confused with ragweed (Ambrosia sp.) and is often blamed for seasonal allergies since they both bloom around the same time. On closer inspection, you will notice that ragweed doesn’t look anything like goldenrod, and doesn’t even have the yellow flower clusters. (I tried to look for some ragweed for pictures, but I could only find goldenrod since it is much more common in my area).

The irony is, goldenrod is considered the natural remedy for the same types of allergies caused by ragweed! So if you have issues with seasonal allergies, consider taking goldenrod to alleviate symptoms.

I have personally taken goldenrod to avoid the flu/colds when around sick family members and have avoided getting sick all together. That is purely anecdotal of course, but it is worth determining for yourself if it helps.

Goldenrod also makes a beautiful natural dye for anyone in the natural dye space (if you are contact me so we can publish a newsletter on dye!) which makes this plant a very under-utilized one.

Goldenrod is also a deer-resistant native wildflower, and cattle have been trained to eat goldenrod which has consistently similar nutrient value to alfalfa. This could make it an excellent fodder crop for grazing animals as it is very abundant and hardy in most soil types.

If finding wild goldenrod is too intimidating for you, then there are a few cultivation options for you:

• Canadian Goldenrod

• Ohio Goldenrod

• Old Field Goldenrod

• Showy Goldenrod

• Riddell’s Goldenrod

All of the above species/varieties can be purchased at the following:

Everwilde

American Meadows

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