Goldenrod

Information on Goldenrod

Common Name: Goldenrod
Scientific Name: Solidago virgaurea
Irish Name: Slat óir
Family Group: Asteraceae
Distribution: View Map (Courtesy of the BSBI)
Flowering Period


Click for list of all flowering by month
Goldenrod is not easily confused with other wild plants on this web site.


This is an upright perennial which reaches about 70cm in height and which is found on heaths, coastal cliffs and in a wide variety of habitats.  It has stiffly erect stems which bear large inflorescences of stalked yellow flowers.  Each flower head (15-18mm across) has both disc and ray florets, the inner disc florets numbering up to 30, the outer ray florets numbering up to 12.  The slightly tatty-looking flowers bloom from July to September.  Its seeds are borne on a pappus. The oblong leaves are alternate and slightly toothed.  This is a native plant belonging to the family Asteraceae.  

I first recorded this plant growing on turf beside the sea at Rath, Caherdaniel, Co Kerry in 1977 and I photographed it in the Burren, Co Clare in 2006. 

If you are satisfied you have correctly identified this plant, please submit your sighting to the National Biodiversity Data Centre

Goldenrod
Goldenrod
Goldenrod