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Common Name: Late Goldenrod

General Information

Solidago altissima is a perennial plant that can grow up to 1.80 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

N. America - found in most areas except the far north.

Habitat

Dry to damp thickets, roadsides and clearings[]. Dry to moist soils, fields, roadsides, disturbed areas from sea level to 1000 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.80 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in any moderately fertile moisture retentive soil in sun or semi-shade[]. Grows well in heavy clay soils.
A rather greedy plant, it is apt to impoverish the soil[].
Hybridizes freely with S. canadensis[].
The plant attracts various beneficial insects such as ladybirds, lacewings and hoverflies to the garden, these insects will help to control insect pests in the garden[, ].

Edible Uses

Young leaves and flowering stems - cooked[].
Seed[, , , , , ]. It can be used as a thickener in soups[]. The seed is very small and fiddly to harvest or utilize[].
A tea can be made from the flowers and/or the leaves[, ].

Medicinal

The whole plant is antiseptic, haemostatic, salve and styptic[, , ].
An infusion of the dried powdered herb can be used as an antiseptic[].
A poultice of the flowers has been used in the treatment of ulcers and burns[].
A poultice of the moistened, crushed root has been used in the treatment of boils[].

Other Uses

A source of latex, contained in the leaves. A potentially good source of rubber[].
Mustard, orange and brown dyes can be obtained from the whole plant[].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. Only just cover the seed and do not allow the compost to become dry. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle, and grow them on for their first winter in pots. Plant them out into their permanent positions in spring or early summer.
Division in spring or autumn. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.