Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower family)
Duration: Perennial
Height: 35 - 80 cm (1 to 2.5 ft)
Blooming: Aug. - Oct.
Blue-stem Goldenrod
Solidago caesia L.
Stem: round and either erect or arching. It is glaucous, usually with a blue to purple color.
Flowers: are in 9-380 yellow flowerheads. They are axillary or terminally arranged. Each flowerhead is approximately 3 mm. (.125 in) wide.
Leaves: the basal leaves often wither by the time the plant flowers. They are sessile in that they are attached directly to the stem without petioles.
Sun: Part shade to shade
SOURCES & FURTHER RESOURCES:
Consortium of Midwest Herbaria - Solidago caesia
all photos by Nathanael Pilla
Landscape: An arching yellow addition to your shaded meadow garden or woodland.
Comments: Blue-stemmed goldenrod differs from zigzag goldenrod in that the zigzag goldenrod has wider leaves that are coarsely toothed and petiolated. If you see the blue-purplish stem, it is most likely the blue-stemmed goldenrod.
Etymology: The epithet name caesia comes from the Latin word, caesius, meaning "bluish-grey" due to the bluish stem color. The genus, solidago, comes from the Latin word, solida meaning "whole" and ago meanining "to make".
Species Present and Native
