# Common Wrinkle-Leaved Goldenrod (*solidago rugosa*) The Common Wrinkle-Leaved Goldenrod is a bright yellow plant that attracts many butterflies! It's a favorite among bees and helps make our gardens beautiful. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger - **Snaps:** 16 - **Habitat:** Commonly found in fields, meadows, and along roadsides. - **Also known as:** Rugosa Goldenrod, Wrinkle-Leaved Goldenrod ![Common Wrinkle-Leaved Goldenrod](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Solidago_rugosa01.jpg&width=800) Photo: Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Solidago_rugosa01.jpg) ## Appearance The Common Wrinkle-Leaved Goldenrod has tall, often reddish, hairy stems and distinctive dark green leaves with deeply wrinkled surfaces. Its numerous small, bright yellow flowers grow in dense, upright, or arching clusters, creating a vibrant display. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Asterales - **Family:** Asteraceae - **Genus:** Solidago ## Interesting facts - A special fly lays eggs in its stem, causing a round, woody gall to form! - Indigenous peoples brewed its leaves into a tea for various traditional remedies. - Its vibrant yellow flowers were once used to make natural dyes for clothing! - This goldenrod is often mistaken for ragweed, but it doesn't cause hay fever! ## Special abilities - **Underground Expansion:** Common Wrinkle-Leaved Goldenrod has creeping underground rhizomes that help it spread and quickly colonize new sunny areas. - **Late-Season Fuel Stop:** Common Wrinkle-Leaved Goldenrod blooms late in the season, providing essential nectar for migrating butterflies and other pollinators. - **Herbivore Deterrent:** Its leaves and stems contain special chemicals that make them less tasty to hungry animals, helping it stay safe. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 100-200 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.4 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late Summer to Fall - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Gathers nectar and pollen for food. - **Pollinates:** [Monarch Butterfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/monarch-butterfly) (*Danaus plexippus*) — Feeds on nectar during migration. - **Parasitizes:** Goldenrod Gall Fly (*Eurosta solidaginis*) — Larvae develop inside stem galls. - **Eats:** Goldenrod Leaf Beetle (*Trirhabda virgata*) — Larvae and adults feed on its leaves. ## Traits - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [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. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Common Wrinkle-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 Common Wrinkle-Leaved Goldenrod? 100-200 cm ### How wide does Common Wrinkle-Leaved Goldenrod spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on Common Wrinkle-Leaved Goldenrod? 0.2-0.4 cm ### When does Common Wrinkle-Leaved Goldenrod bloom? Late Summer to Fall ### Is Common Wrinkle-Leaved Goldenrod edible? Yes ### Is Common Wrinkle-Leaved Goldenrod toxic? None ### What is Common Wrinkle-Leaved Goldenrod's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Barrington Civic Center Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/barrington-civic-center-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Bear Swamp](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bear-swamp) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve - [Inman Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/inman-park) — Georgia, US · Neighborhood - [Long Ridge Village Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/long-ridge-village-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Lyman Run State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lyman-run-state-park) — Pennsylvania, US · State Park - [Malcolm Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/malcolm-preserve) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see Common Wrinkle-Leaved Goldenrod](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/common-wrinkle-leaved-goldenrod) ## 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*) --- Source: [Common Wrinkle-Leaved Goldenrod Facts — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-wrinkle-leaved-goldenrod)