# Cutler's goldenrod (*Solidago leiocarpa*)

Cutler's goldenrod is a beautiful yellow flower that blooms in late summer. It grows in sunny places and is loved by butterflies and bees for its sweet nectar.

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

![Cutler's goldenrod](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/471166/medium.jpg)

Photo: A. Drauglis, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/471166)

## Appearance

The Cutler's goldenrod has dense clusters of bright golden-yellow flowers atop sturdy, often reddish stems. Its leaves are smooth and dark green, contributing to its neat, compact appearance which distinguishes it from many taller, leggier goldenrods.

## Taxonomy

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

## Interesting facts

- Each tiny seed has a fluffy 'parachute' that helps it fly far on the wind!
- It's named after Manasseh Cutler, a botanist who explored the White Mountains!
- There are over 100 different kinds of goldenrods all around the world!
- This goldenrod loves rocky, high-up places like mountain peaks and cliffs.

## Special abilities

- **Mountain Survivor:** Cutler's goldenrod can thrive in harsh mountain environments, growing short and tough to withstand strong winds and cold.
- **Pollinator Beacon:** Cutler's goldenrod has vibrant yellow flower clusters that act as a bright beacon, attracting many helpful insects for pollination.
- **Clone Maker:** Cutler's goldenrod can spread underground using rhizomes, allowing it to create new plants and form dense colonies.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-90 cm
- **Spread:** 30-60 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.3-0.6 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 from flowers
- **Pollinates:** Common eastern bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — Visits flowers for nectar and pollen
- **Pollinates:** Red admiral butterfly (*Vanessa atalanta*) — Feeds on the flower nectar
- **Eats:** Goldenrod leaf beetle (*Trirhabda virgata*) — Larvae and adults feed on the leaves
- **Eaten by:** [White-tailed deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Browses on the stems and 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.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [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.

## Collections

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

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't touch wild plants unless a grown-up says it's okay.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Cutler's 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 Cutler's goldenrod?

30-90 cm

### How wide does Cutler's goldenrod spread?

30-60 cm

### How big are the flowers on Cutler's goldenrod?

0.3-0.6 cm

### When does Cutler's goldenrod bloom?

Late summer to fall

### Is Cutler's goldenrod edible?

Yes

### Is Cutler's goldenrod toxic?

None

### What is Cutler's goldenrod's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Mount Washington State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mount-washington-state-park) — New Hampshire, US · State Park

## 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: [Cutler's goldenrod: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cutlers-goldenrod)