Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis)
Canada Goldenrod is native to Northeastern North America forming colonies of tall plants with small yellow flowers. Found in a variety of habitats from very dry locations to waterlogged ones. The species is known to be very aggressive forming monocultures and near-monocultures and it is resistant to winter temperatures.
Common Names
| 🇨🇦 | Canada Goldenrod |
| 🇫🇷 | Verge d'or du Canada |
| 🇩🇪 | Kanadische Goldrute |
| 🇲🇽 | Vara de Oro de Canadá |
Taxonomy
| Order | Asterales |
| Family | Asteraceae |
Flowers
| Color | yellow |
| Shape | discoid |
| Inflorescence | panicle |
Leaves
| Arrangement | alternate |
| Petiole | sessile |
| Shape | lanceolate |
| Margin | serrate |
| Venation | pinnate |
How to Identify
Tall plant with many small, yellow flowers on the upper branches. The linear shaped leaves are arranged alternatively on the stems.
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Where and When to Spot
A common plant found in all parks around Montreal.
Flowering Records by Park and Season
| Location | Spring | Summer | Autumn | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belvédère Outremont | - | x | - | x |
| Champ des Possibles | - | x | - | - |
| Jardin Botanique de Montréal | - | - | x | - |
| Parc Angrignon | - | x | - | - |
| Parc Bernard-Landry | - | - | x | - |
| Parc de la Frayère | - | x | - | - |
"x" indicates that the species was observed flowering, while "-" indicates no observation. The absence of observation doesn't necessarily imply that the species was not flowering. Data is derived from our park visit journals.
Summary
Canada Goldenrod is native to much of North America and is abundant in fields, roadsides, and open habitats across Quebec, where it thrives in sunny, moderately moist to dry sites. It has also been widely introduced in Europe and parts of Asia, where it can behave as an invasive species.
This tall perennial produces dense plumes of bright yellow flowers in late summer and autumn, attracting a wide variety of pollinators. It spreads vigorously by rhizomes and seed, forming dense stands that can dominate disturbed ground and strongly influence plant community composition.
Summary French
La Verge d’or du Canada est indigène à une grande partie de l’Amérique du Nord et abondante dans les champs, bords de routes et milieux ouverts au Québec, où elle prospère sur des sites ensoleillés, de modérément secs à frais. Elle a aussi été largement introduite en Europe et dans certaines régions d’Asie, où elle peut se comporter comme une espèce envahissante.
Cette grande vivace produit à la fin de l’été et en automne de denses panicules de fleurs jaune vif qui attirent une grande variété de pollinisateurs. Elle se propage vigoureusement par rhizomes et par graines, formant des peuplements denses qui peuvent dominer les milieux perturbés et influencer fortement la composition de la végétation.