Pollinator plant

Showy Goldenrod

Solidago speciosa

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Common names

10 names · 7 languages
EnglishYour language
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Showy or noble goldenrod[4]
Other languages (6)
Dutch
  • Guldenroede
French
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 华彩一枝黄[3]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 華彩一枝黃[3]
Estonian
  • ilus kuldvits[3]
Finnish
  • luhtapiisku[3]
Sources & name notes (4)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Solidago speciosa — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Goldenrod — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Solidago speciosa.
  • Showy Goldenrod — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Solidago speciosa.
[2] Solidago speciosa — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • showy goldenrod — results[1].names[1]; taxon id 130376; Solidago speciosa.
  • verge d'or voyante — results[1].names[2]; taxon id 130376; Solidago speciosa.
[3] Solidago speciosa — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • showy goldenrod — results[5].names[1]; taxon id 130376; Solidago speciosa.
  • verge d'or voyante — results[5].names[2]; taxon id 130376; Solidago speciosa.
  • ilus kuldvits — results[5].names[3]; taxon id 130376; Solidago speciosa.
  • 华彩一枝黄 — results[5].names[4]; taxon id 130376; Solidago speciosa.
  • 華彩一枝黃 — results[5].names[5]; taxon id 130376; Solidago speciosa.
  • luhtapiisku — results[5].names[6]; taxon id 130376; Solidago speciosa.
[4] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Solidago speciosa ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Showy or noble goldenrod — VernacularName.tsv, line 144366; taxon 4Y7JH.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Solidago speciosa is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Asteraceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
0.61–2.13 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
0.61–0.91 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Perennial

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Deciduous

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist; Occasionally Dry

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Autumn; Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: bees, butterflies, pollinators, specialized bees.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Pollinator guidance
RHS includes Solidago species in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.

Genus-level guidance, not a rating for this individual species or a particular cultivar. RHS planting guidance. Choose accessible flowers with pollen and nectar; reduced-resource and double-flowered forms may be unsuitable.

Sources [3]
Native range
NC. & E. U.S.A.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [4]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Medium suitability
Nectar value Medium
Pollen value Medium
Plant profile

About this plant

Noble goldenrod (Solidago speciosa) is a herbaceous plant. It flowers from July to September.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Solidago speciosa — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 1239443; ID 4Y7JH; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 1239443; ID 4Y7JH; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Solidago speciosa — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadLife cycleFoliageLightMoisture and drainageFlowering seasonReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Garden Plants

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 5, column 1, entry Solidago species (top 82 pt)

    Source checked on .

  4. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Solidago speciosa — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 506057; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 1662823, 1662824, 1662825, 1662826, 1662827, 1662828, 1662829, 1662830, 1662831, 1662832, 1662833, 1662834, 1662835, 1662836, 1662837, 1662838, 1662839, 1662840, 1662841

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.