Solidago petiolaris Aiton

Ragged Goldenrod

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Ragged Goldenrod is a native herbaceous perennial in the Sunflower family (Asteraceae). It can be found throughout much of Alabama. Ragged Goldenrod grows in open woodlands, in fire maintained pine forests, in sandhills, and on roadsides, usually in dry, sandy soils. It is a perennial with a short slender rhizome. Stems are 3-5 feet in height. The stems are stout, brown in color, and finely pubescent. Basal leaves are usually absent at flowering time. Stems leaves are alternate, sessile or short petiolate, elliptic to ovate in outline, with entire or short-ciliate margins. The leaves are variously short pubescent or glabrous. The upper leaf surface is often rough to the touch due to the short stiff hairs. Flowers are produced in heads. The heads are arranged in elongate panicles. The panicles are leaf bracteates with much reduced leaves. The phyllaries are squarrose-tipped (strongly recurved toward their tips), and stipitate glandular. Each head has 5-9 yellow ray flowers and 8-16 yellow disc flowers. The fruit is an achene. Ragged Goldenrod is occasionally available from native plant nurseries. It prefers a sandy soil in full sun. Plants may need staking to prevent them from falling over.--A. Diamond

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Native

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