Toxic Plant Known to be toxic - Toxic to livestock and cats if ingested.
Image of Solidago nemoralis
Source: Sundaura Alford-Purvis
image of Flowering plant
Solidago nemoralis
Grey-stemmed Goldenrod
Verge d'or des bois

Obsolete Names

field goldenrod
grey goldenrod
old field goldenrod
wood goldenrod
solidage des bois
No seeds available for this plant.
We currently accept seeds for this plant
Bloom colour: Yellow Bloom period: Aug - Sep
Max Height: 2.0 feet
Max Width: 1.0 feet (spreads by rhizome)
Light condition:
Full sun More than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Part shade More than 2 or 3 hours but less than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Soil conditions:
Moisture dry Tolerates dry soil condition
Moisture medium Tolerates medium soil condition
Lifespan: Perennial plants that will that come back year after year
Gardener Experience:
plant germinate easy Easy to germinate
plant self seeding Self-seeding
Landscape uses:
rock garden Suitable for rock gardens
row garden Suitable for Right of Way gardens
rain garden Suitable for rain gardens
container suitable Suitable for container garden
school garden Suitable for school gardens
boulevard garden tolerant Tolerates boulevard garden conditions
foot traffic tolerant Tolerates foot traffic
Ecological Benefits:
Pollinator garden Supports pollinators
butterfly host Butterfly host
keystones species Keystone species
Tolerates:
Salt Tolerant Tolerates salt conditions
foot traffic Tolerant Tolerates foot traffic
limestone Tolerant Tolerates limestone conditions
sand Tolerant Tolerates sandy conditions
juglone Tolerant Tolerates juglone conditions
transplantation Tolerant Tolerates transplantation
Special Features and Considerations:
septic tank safe This plant is septic tank safe
causes skin rashes This plant causes skin rashes

Plant Location

Native to Ottawa region: Yes

Distribution according to VASCAN

Distribution: Solidago nemoralis
Ephemeral Native Introduced Excluded Extirpated Doubtful Absent
View taxonomy on Canadensys

View on iNaturalist

Thrives in Ecozones

  • Taiga Plains
  • Atlantic Maritime
  • Taiga Shield
  • Boreal Plains
  • Montane Cordillera
  • Prairies
  • Boreal Shield
  • Mixed Wood Plains

Ecological Benefits

Butterflies Supported by Solidago nemoralis

  • Cucullia convexipennis (Brown Hooded Owlet)
  • Eupithecia miserulata (American Common Pug)
  • Euplexia benesimilis (American Angle Shades)
  • Leuconycta diphteroides (Green Leuconycta)
  • Melanchra adjuncta (Hitched Arches)
  • Phragmatobia fuliginosa (Ruby Tiger)
  • Trichordestra legitima (Striped Garden Caterpillar)

Specialized Bees Supported by Solidago nemoralis

  • Andrena aliciae
  • Andrena asteris
  • Andrena canadensis
  • Andrena chromotricha
  • Andrena hirticincta
  • Andrena nubecula
  • Andrena placata
  • Andrena simplex
  • Complexe Colletes americanus
  • Complexe Colletes compactus
  • Complexe Colletes simulans
  • Dianthidium simile
  • Megachile inimica
  • Melissodes agilis
  • Melissodes illatus
  • Melissodes trinodis
  • Protandrena andrenoides
  • Pseudopanurgus aestivalis
Plants that grow in similar conditions, that bloom at the same time.

Complementary Plants

  • No complementary plants found.

Substitute For Non-Native Plants

  • Oenothera (Non-Native Primrose)
  • Oenothera biennis (Evening Primrose Cultivars)
  • Oenothera fructicosa (Sundrops Cultivars)
  • Helianthus (Non-Native Sunflower)
  • NA (Black Eyed Susan's Cultivars)
  • Rudbeckia Triloba (Brown Eyed Susan's)
  • Echinacea (Coneflowers)
  • NA (Coreopsis cultivars)
  • Helianthus).1 (Non-Native Sunflower)
  • NA (Non-Native False Sunflower)

Sowing Information

Download Sowing Label (PDF)
  • Sowing depth: Surface sow
  • Sow by February
  • Stratification duration: 60 days
  • Self-seeding

Harvesting and Seed Sharing

  • Harvest start month: October
  • Harvesting indicator: Seeds have become fluffy and can be easily removed by shaking on gently pulling off from stem
  • Harvesting mean: Shake seed head in paper bag
  • Seed viability test: No test needed before donating
  • Packaging measure: 1 rounded 1/4 teaspoon
  • Seed storage: Air dry in paper bag or open container, for a few days until crisp, shaking seeds to move them once in a while to prevent molding
  • At least one cultivar: No, you can donate without knowing the source as there are only straight species
  • No harvesting video available at this time.

Toxicity Notes

Toxic to livestock and cats if ingested.