# broad-leaved goldenrod (*Solidago flexicaulis*)

Broad-leaved goldenrod is a bright yellow flower that blooms in late summer and fall. It grows tall and has broad leaves, making it easy to spot in gardens and fields.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 2
- **Habitat:** Grasslands

![broad-leaved goldenrod](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Solidago_flexicaulis01.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Solidago_flexicaulis01.jpg)

## Appearance

The broad-leaved goldenrod has distinctive broad, oval, toothed leaves along a often zigzagging stem. Its small, bright yellow flowers appear in loose clusters in the upper leaf axils, creating a more delicate, less dense appearance than other goldenrod species. It prefers shaded environments.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Asterales
- **Family:** Asteraceae
- **Genus:** Solidago

## Interesting facts

- It helps feed hungry bees and butterflies just before winter!
- Its stem often zigzags like a lightning bolt!
- Native Americans used its leaves to make a comforting tea.
- This goldenrod is special because it loves the shade, unlike most goldenrods!

## Special abilities

- **Shade Seeker:** The broad-leaved goldenrod can grow happily in shady spots, an unusual skill for its sunny goldenrod relatives!
- **Zigzag Power:** Its unique zigzagging stem helps position leaves to capture maximum sunlight in dappled forest light.
- **Fall Feast:** It provides vital nectar for insects in autumn when many other flowers have faded away.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-120 cm
- **Spread:** 30-60 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late summer to fall (August-October)
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) — Collects nectar and pollen.
- **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — A vital late-season food source.
- **Pollinates:** [Eastern Tiger Swallowtail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-tiger-swallowtail) (*Papilio glaucus*) — Sips nectar from its yellow blooms.
- **Eaten by:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Deer occasionally browse its leaves.

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
- [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Decomposer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/decomposer): Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always ask an adult before picking any flowers.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify broad-leaved goldenrod?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is broad-leaved goldenrod?

30-120 cm

### How wide does broad-leaved goldenrod spread?

30-60 cm

### How big are the flowers on broad-leaved goldenrod?

0.2-0.5 cm

### When does broad-leaved goldenrod bloom?

Late summer to fall (August-October)

### Is broad-leaved goldenrod edible?

Yes

### Is broad-leaved goldenrod toxic?

None

### What is broad-leaved goldenrod's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Greenfield Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/greenfield-park) — Wisconsin, US · Park
- [Mohegan State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mohegan-state-forest) — Connecticut, US · Forest

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Broad-leaved Goldenrod: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/broad-leaved-goldenrod)