Solidago puberula Nuttall. Subgenus: Solidago. Section: Erectae. Series: Puberulae. Common name: Downy Goldenrod. Phenology: Aug-Oct. Habitat: Bogs, wet meadows, and wet pastures, in dry acid soils in VA and WV. Distribution: NS west to ON, south to GA, nw. AL, and TN.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Synonymy ⓘ: = NY, S, Tn, LeBlond (2000); = Solidago puberula Nutt. ssp. puberula – FNA20; = Solidago puberula Nutt. var. puberula – C, F, G, K1, K3, K4, NE, RAB, SE1, Va, Johnson (1995); < Solidago puberula Nutt. – Pa, Tat, W, WV
Links to other floras: = Solidago puberula ssp. puberula - FNA20
Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
- Northcentral & Northeast: FACU
Heliophily ⓘ: 8
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect, rhizomatous perennial of bogs, wet meadows and wet pastures as well as dry acidic soils of woodlands, barrens and clearings.
Stems: Stems with longitudinal lines, often purplish-red, unbranched, finely hairy.
Leaves: Leaves mostly basal, tapered to a winged petiole, spoon-shaped to oblong-oval, 2-6 in. long, toothed, finely hairy; stem leaves alternate, reduced upward, usually entire and often with clustered, tiny bract-like leaves in the axils.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Composite flowers (heads) densely clustered on short, ascending branches forming a narrow terminal array; heads 1/4 in. long, consisting of 9-16 yellow ray florets encircling a center disk of 6-15 small, yellow tubular florets. 3-4 series of tiny bracts surround the bell-shaped base of each head.
Fruits:
Comments: The similar S. pulverulenta is found in savannas, streamhead pocosins, flatwoods and seepages in the Coastal Plain and differs in being leafier and having mid-stem leaves that are shorter (1 1/2 or less in. long as opposed to 1 1/2-2 in.).
Height: 1-3 ft.
plant sale text: Downy Goldenrod is discovered along the edges of deciduous and pine woods or roadsides, in clearings, or at the margins of ponds and streams. In late summer, the yellow, fuzzy looking blooms can be seen from northern Canada down to the mountains and piedmont of Georgia. Pair Downy Goldenrod with low-growing warm season grasses or fall asters for a late summer display.
bloom table text:
description: Erect, rhizomatous perennial of bogs, wet meadows and wet pastures as well as dry acidic soils of woodlands, barrens and clearings.
stems: Stems with longitudinal lines, often purplish-red, unbranched, finely hairy.
leaves: Leaves mostly basal, tapered to a winged petiole, spoon-shaped to oblong-oval, 2-6 in. long, toothed, finely hairy; stem leaves alternate, reduced upward, usually entire and often with clustered, tiny bract-like leaves in the axils.
inflorescence:
flowers: Composite flowers (heads) densely clustered on short, ascending branches forming a narrow terminal array; heads 1/4 in. long, consisting of 9-16 yellow ray florets encircling a center disk of 6-15 small, yellow tubular florets. 3-4 series of tiny bracts surround the bell-shaped base of each head.
fruits:
comments: The similar S. pulverulenta is found in savannas, streamhead pocosins, flatwoods and seepages in the Coastal Plain and differs in being leafier and having mid-stem leaves that are shorter (1 1/2 or less in. long as opposed to 1 1/2-2 in.).
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: