Solidago virgaurea
Goldenrod
a perennial member of the Solidago genus in the family Compositae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Compositae
- Genus
- Solidago
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Height
- 0.6 m
- Spread
- 0.4 m
- Fertility
- Self fertile, Bees, Flies, Self
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Bees, Flies, Self
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
A tea is obtained from the leaves[16][17][7].
- Product or use
- Tea
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Goldenrod is a safe and gentle remedy for a number of disorders. In particular, it is a valuable astringent remedy treating wounds and bleeding, whilst it is particularly useful in the treatment of urinary tract disorders, being used both for serious ailments such as nephritis and for more common problems such as cystitis[14]. The plant contains saponins that are antifungal and act specifically against the Candida fungus which is the cause of vaginal and oral thrush[13][14]. It also contains rutin which is used to treat capillary fragility, and phenolic glycosides which are anti-inflammatory[13]. The leaves and flowering tops are anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, aromatic, astringent, carminative, diaphoretic, mildly diuretic, febrifuge and stimulant[15][18][19][11][3][4]. A good vulnerary herb, it has also proved of value when used internally in the treatment of urinary infections, chronic catarrh, skin diseases, influenza, whooping cough, bladder and kidney stones etc[15][13]. Due to its mild action, goldenrod is used to treat gastro-enteritis in children[14]. It makes an excellent mouthwash in the treatment of thrush[18]. The plant is gathered in the summer and dried for later use[18]. The seed is anticoagulant, astringent and carminative[12]. A homeopathic remedy is made from the plant[19]. It is used in the treatment of kidney and bladder disorders, rheumatism and arthritis[19].
- Product or use
- Anthelmintic
- Product or use
- Anticoagulant
- Product or use
- Antifungal
- Product or use
- Antiinflammatory
- Product or use
- Antiseptic
- Product or use
- Aromatic
- Product or use
- Astringent
- Product or use
- Carminative
- Product or use
- Diaphoretic
- Product or use
- Diuretic
- Product or use
- Febrifuge
- Product or use
- Stimulant
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Mustard, orange and brown dyes can be obtained from the whole plant[5]. A yellow dye is obtained from the leaves and flowers[15][2].
- Product or use
- Dye
Environment
- Range
- Most of Europe, including Britain, temperate Asia and N. America.
- Habitat
- Dry woods, grassland, rocks, cliffs, hedgebanks, dunes etc on acid or calcareous soils[6].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 5+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. Only just cover the seed and do not allow the compost to become dry. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle, and grow them on for their first winter in pots. Plant them out into their permanent positions in spring or early summer. Division in spring or autumn. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
An easily grown plant, it succeeds in any moderately fertile moisture retentive soil in sun or semi-shade[9]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. A rather greedy plant, it is apt to impoverish the soil[1]. The bruised plant smells like wild carrots[15]. The sub-species S. virgaurea minuta is only 10cm tall and wide[8]. The plant attracts various beneficial insects such as ladybirds, lacewings and hoverflies to the garden, these insects will help to control insect pests in the garden[10][13].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969-00-00 ISBN 0192176218
? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X
Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.
Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-02-544950-8
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Allardice.P. A - Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers Ltd. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-304-34324-2
Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2
Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148
Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202
Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5
Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2