giant goldenrod
(Solidago gigantea)
Conservation • Wetland • Description • Habitat • Ecology • Use • Distribution • Taxonomy
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Description |
The stem is hairless, often glaucous, and often tinged reddish-purple. With some well known exceptions, goldenrods are notoriously difficult to identify in the field. Giant goldenrod is one of those exceptions. It is the only goldenrod in Minnesota with a stem that is both hairless and glaucous. It is the only hairless goldenrod in Minnesota that gets more than 3′ tall. It is the only goldenrod with a hairless stem that may have a globular gall on the stem. The gall is produced by the goldenrod gall fly and is very common, occurring almost everywhere giant goldenrod is found. |
Height |
20″ to 80″ |
Flower Color |
Yellow ray flowers, yellow disk flowers |
Similar Species |
Missouri goldenrod (Solidago missouriensis) stem is also hairless, but it is much shorter, just 12″ to 32″ tall. The stem is never glaucous. |
Habitat |
Wet, moderate moisture, and dry. Meadows, prairies, streambanks, swamps, calcareous fens, open wildlands, roadsides. Full sun to light shade. |
Ecology |
Flowering |
July to September |
Pests and Diseases |
Goldenrod gall fly (Eurosta solidaginis) produces and globular swelling on the stem of the plant. |
Use |
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Distribution |
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Sources Biodiversity occurrence data published by: Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas (accessed through the Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Portal, bellatlas.umn.edu, 7/28/2025). |
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| 7/28/2025 | ||
Nativity |
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Native |
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Occurrence |
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Very common and widespread |
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Taxonomy |
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Kingdom |
Plantae (green algae and land plants) |
Subkingdom |
Viridiplantae (green plants) |
Infrakingdom |
Streptophyta (land plants and green algae) |
Superdivision |
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Division |
Tracheophyta (vascular plants) |
Subdivision |
Spermatophytina (seed plants) / Angiospermae (flowering plants) |
Class |
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Superorder |
Asteranae |
Order |
Asterales (sunflowers, bellflowers, fanflowers, and allies) |
Family |
Asteraceae (sunflowers, daisies, asters, and allies) |
Subfamily |
Asteroideae |
Supertribe |
Asterodae |
Tribe |
Astereae (asters and allies) |
Subtribe |
Solidagininae |
Genus |
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Subgenus |
Pleiactila |
Section |
Unilaterales |
Subsection |
Serotinae |
Subordinate Taxa |
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Synonyms |
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Aster latissimifolius var. serotinus Solidago dumetorum Solidago gigantea ssp. serotina Solidago gigantea var. leiophylla Solidago gigantea var. pitcheri Solidago gigantea var. serotina Solidago gigantea var. shinnersii Solidago pitcheri Solidago serotina Solidago serotinoides Solidago X leiophallax |
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Common Names |
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early goldenrod giant goldenrod smooth goldenrod tall goldenrod |
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Glossary
Glaucous
Pale green or bluish gray due to a whitish, powdery or waxy film, as on a plum or a grape.
Visitor Photos |
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Dan W. Andree |
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Gall... Seen this a couple days ago I believe it is maybe from some type gall fly ?? |
sasx21 |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Plant |
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Inforescence |
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Inforescence |
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Leaf |
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Stem |
Slideshows |
Solidago gigantea LATE GOLDENROD |
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Visitor Videos |
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Other Videos |
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Giant Goldenrod (Solidago gigantea) - 2013-08-13 |
About
Published on Aug 13, 2013 Solidago gigantea is a plant species in the genus Solidago. Its common name is giant goldenrod. -------------------- De plant wordt 50-150 cm hoog en heeft tot aan de bloeiwijze een kale stengel. De stengel kan groen of purper gekleurd zijn. De bladeren zijn van onderen blauwgroen en kaal met soms een kort behaarde middennerf of aan de randen gewimperd. 52.01511 4.30414 |
Solidago gigantea la verge d'or géante, finalement, une plante qui ne sent pas si bon ! |
About
Published on Sep 4, 2012 Solidage géant, ou Solidage glabre, une plante à fleurs jaunes venue tout droit du continent nord-américain, une plante qui depuis s'est trop bien acclimatée et qui devient invasive et une menace pour la flore locale, elle est sur la liste noire de quelques pays, liste qui va sans doute s'étendre ! http://www.champyves.fr/nature/FicsHtml/F_J_Solidago_gigantea.htm |
00001 GIant Goldenrod |
About
Published on Jan 11, 2015 |
Goldenrod Bees |
About
Uploaded on May 12, 2010 Loads of honey bees working the giant goldenrod in our garden. Solidago gigantea I believe but this got taller than 7 |
Visitor Sightings |
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Dan W. Andree |
Location: MN SNA, Norman Co. Mn. Seen this a couple days ago I believe it is maybe from some type gall fly ?? |
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sasx21 |
Location: Circle Pines, MN |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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Created: 8/17/2015 Last Updated: © MinnesotaSeasons.com. All rights reserved. |