General description of distinctive features, tips for growing goldenrod, recommendations for breeding golden cattail, pests and diseases, interesting facts, species. Goldenrod (Solidago) is part of the Asteraceae family or as it is called Compositae and the genus of the same name - Goldenrod. The native area of distribution falls on the territory of all the CIS countries, also in Western Europe, he did not ignore the lands of Siberia and Central Asia. For his growth he likes to settle on forest edges and clearings, among shrub thickets, often serves as an ornament along roads, can grow on wet and flooded meadows, on the slopes of rubble and stones, loves sandy soils.
The plant bears its scientific name from the translation of the word from Latin: "solidus", which means "strong" and "healthy". This characteristic was given from the fact that goldenrod has a positive effect on many human organs and people have long known about its properties. Among the people, this medicinal plant has a large number of synonymous names, only the most famous of them are given here: golden cattail, scrofula, canadian goldenrod, raven or hare fluff, and you can also hear how it is called a golden feather, deciduous, ugly or flea beetle. Most often, the name reflected the bright yellow flowers that are formed during flowering.
Goldenrod has a herbaceous form of growth, it is a perennial, there is also a short rhizome with pivotal outlines and a woody appearance. Stems extend to a height of 30-140 cm, they are usually erect, branching only at the top, completely leafy. Sometimes the surface of the stems becomes reddish.
The leaf plates on the stems are arranged in a regular sequence. Those leaves that are in the root zone may differ in elongated petioles, and the stem ones have shortened petioles, and in some varieties the lower leaves are with short petioles, and the upper ones are generally sessile. The shape of the leaf plate is ovoid or elliptical, with an elongated sharpening at the apex. The edge is sometimes serrated. On the surface of the leaf, there are several pairs of almost equally developed lateral veins. All parts of the plant are slightly pubescent with barely noticeable hairs.
The flowers that form during the flowering process are small and their length varies between 10-15 mm. The flower petals are yellow, pale yellow or golden. From the buds, multiple flower baskets are collected, collecting in turn in paniculate or racemose inflorescences, which are located on the tops of the stems. The wrapper is bell-shaped and can measure 5–8 mm in length, with 2–3 pairs of rows. At the wrapper, the leaves are pointed, whole-edged and ciliate along the edge. Those that are on the outside are three times shorter in length than the inner ones. In the middle there are leaves with keeled contours. The flowering process takes place from late spring to early autumn.
After flowering, fruits ripen in the form of cylindrical achenes. Their surface is ribbed, their length can reach 3-4 mm. There is also pubescence over the entire surface, there is a brownish crest formed by hairs, whose length reaches 4–5 mm. Seeds begin to ripen from June to October.
Growing goldenrod from seeds, planting and care
- Choosing a landing site. The plant shows good growth in sunny areas, but even in partial shade it is not so bad. Usually, varieties of golden cattail are quite winter-hardy and do not require additional shelter for the winter.
- The soil for goldenrod, you do not need to loosen it and not try to lighten it, it can grow on heavy soil, but under natural conditions it feels good on sands and in a rocky substrate.
- Watering golden cattails are usually not carried out, since the plant tolerates drought well, but in the summer heat it can be affected by powdery mildew, to prevent it, you will have to abundantly moisturize the substrate.
- Fertilizers apply twice during the entire growing season. Apply mineral preparations of dressings. In the spring months, complex preparations should be added to the soil under the bushes of the golden cattail, so that the nitrogen content in them is within 10–20%. Can be used for fertilizing wood ash. With the arrival of autumn, scrofula is fertilized with preparations in which nitrogen is only 10% or it is completely absent. Fertilization will promote flowering, since the beauty of the inflorescences is lost on depleted soil. If ash is constantly applied, it will protect the plant from powdery mildew, but with an excess of nitrogen, this disease will only be stimulated.
- General care of goldenrod. In order for the plant to endure the winter and cold, it is recommended to cut the entire aboveground part. It is not worth changing the planting site, since with good care, the plant can safely be there for 10 years. Since over time the central part of the bush begins to thin out, it is worth planting young plants. Also, the formed "bald spot" in the center of the bush is loosened, after which it will gradually fill itself with young growth. With the arrival of spring heat or during the summer months, it is recommended to remove weak shoots from goldenrod, this will help young stems grow in the future and promote flowering. If the soil is sufficiently fertilized and moistened, then the shoots grow taller and the density of the inflorescences increases.
It is worth waiting for flowering in the first year, depending on the time of planting. If the goldenrod was planted at the end of April days, then the flowers will begin to bloom 20 days later than the same bushes that were planted in May.
Self-breeding tips for golden cattail
The plant is distinguished by the ability of self-seeding, as well as dividing the bush or planting offspring for its reproduction.
With seed reproduction, polymorphism is possible, so this method is practically not used. And this is also due to the fact that in many varieties the seeds do not even set or they do not have time to ripen properly. But if, nevertheless, it was decided to propagate with the help of seed, then it is sown on the surface of the substrate. Seeds begin to germinate after 14–20 days, if the temperature is in the range of 18–22 degrees.
If grafting is carried out, the branches are cut from well-ripened shoots and before the budding process begins. Cuttings are separated from the part of the stem, which is hidden by the substrate. The tip taken from a long, annual stem is also used. If, during flowering, the golden cattail is trimmed, then new shoots begin to form from the axillary leaf buds, and they can be used for cuttings.
To carry out the division, the time is chosen after a month after flowering, but in areas with cold winters, this process is carried out in the spring. After division and transplantation, goldenrod does not recover quickly, and survival rate directly depends on soil moisture.
Diseases and pests of scrofula
Powdery mildew, which occurs due to elevated summer temperatures, can cause the greatest harm to golden cattails. The degree of damage directly depends on the variety of goldenrod and how thickened the plantings are, whether old shoots were removed in a timely manner. To fight, thinning the bushes is performed, cutting out from each up to a third of the weakest and oldest stems. Also, if there was an overfeeding with nitrogenous fertilizers, then this could contribute to the development of the above disease. For protection, it is recommended to spray with copper sulfate, Bordeaux liquid or drugs such as Actar (0.2%) or Amistar (0.1%).
Interesting facts about goldenrod
Since the herb of goldenrod contains a large amount of various organic acids, fatty oil and other active substances, it is used in folk and official medicine. Preparations based on golden cattail stimulate metabolism and purify the blood. Its action has long been known to both homeopaths and veterinarians.
The plant is an excellent honey plant and pergonos (bee bread, that is, it is pollen that is collected from bee flowers and then folded and tamped into honeycombs, and then poured honey on top), especially if there is little precipitation …
The herb and flowers of golden cattail can also be used in tanning and dyeing. They were used to extract yellow and brown dyes.
Some literary sources mention that the plant is poisonous. As a consequence, goldenrod is ignored by domestic animals, but when sheep ate grass in large quantities, the latter experienced acute poisoning. As a consequence of this, excitability was increased, and in some cases paralysis and even death were possible.
The pharmaceutical name that goldenrod bears is the herb of the golden cattail (Solidaginis herba), and earlier it was called Herba Virdaureae. It has a faint aroma, its taste is spicy and it is bitter-astringent.
Types of goldenrod
There are a lot of varieties of this plant, the most popular of them are presented here.
Common goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea) is a herbaceous perennial, the entire surface of which is slightly pubescent. In height, the shoots reach 80–100 cm. The root system is shallow and differs in fleshy outlines. The stem is usually single, upright, almost all of its surface, bare at the base, and branching is present in the upper part. Sometimes the stem is colored reddish. The sheet plates have oblong-elliptical contours, are arranged in a regular sequence, the edge is serrated.
Paniculate or racemose inflorescences are formed in the upper part of the stem and consist of multiple flower baskets. The size of the buds is very small in length, their color is bright yellow. After flowering, fruits are formed in the form of cylindrical seeds, in which the surface is covered with ribs and they have a crest. The flowering process stretches from mid-summer to early autumn, fruits ripen from August to mid-autumn days.
Under natural conditions, this variety is widespread in the European territory of Russia and European countries, and also occurs on the lands of Central Asia, Western Siberia, the Mediterranean and in the regions of Scandinavia. Likes to settle on the slopes of hills, forest edges and clearings, along the banks of river arteries, in shrub thickets.
The plant is poisonous!
Canadian goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) is also a herbaceous perennial plant. The entire surface is slightly pubescent. The root is short in size and has a pivotal appearance. Stem erect, singly located, branching is present at the apex. Height can reach 140 cm. The stem is colored in shades ranging from light to dark green. The leaf plates are arranged alternately, their contours are linear-lanceolate, there is an elongated sharpening at the top. Leaves growing below the stem have a serrated edge and short cuttings; above there are entire leaf plates, generally devoid of petioles.
In the flowering process, which stretches from July to August, small buds are formed with bright yellow petals, bisexual. The flowers are located in the middle with a tubular corolla, and those that grow at the edges are pseudo-ligate. The flower basket can be 3–5 mm across. Inflorescences are large in size, have a pyramidal or conical paniculate shape and can vary in length in the range of 4–20 cm. As a fruit, a small achene with a ribbed surface ripens, its contours are narrow-cylindrical, there is a tuft composed of whitish hairs. The seeds ripen completely between August and September.
The native habitat of this species is indicated by its specific name - these are the eastern Canadian territories, as well as the United States and lands in the north of Mexico, this species can be found throughout the European part of Russia, in Ukraine and Moldova. Likes to be located along rivers and lakes, as well as a frequent visitor to forest edges and meadows, decorates roadside lands and can grow well in swamps.
The highest goldenrod (Solidago altissima) respects the lands of North America as its native growing territories. He likes to settle down for life in desert areas, in high grassy thickets of prairies, often decorates the roadsides, it is not bad for him in wet meadow areas and in the open forest. Can't stand the shadow.
Previously, this variety was considered an independent species, but now it is considered a variety of Canadian goldenrod. A perennial with a herbaceous form of growth, the stems of which reach up to a height of 180 cm. The leaf plates are simple, solid and their surface is streaked with veins with a parallel arrangement.
During flowering, inflorescences are formed - flower baskets made up of small flowers, whose length does not exceed 3 mm. One-sided brushes are collected from them, which in turn are collected in a one-sided paniculate inflorescence. Its length often reaches 35 cm. The shade of the petals of the flowers is lemon yellow. The flowering process lasts up to 45 days and begins in the month of August. The plant attracts wasps and sometimes flies with its flowers, as it is an excellent "supplier" of nectar for insects. This variety was the first to be considered a horticultural crop.
Dahurian goldenrod (Solidago dahurica). Siberian lands are considered native territories, prefers to grow in forest clearings and meadows, on slopes of rubble and stones, pebbles.
Strong stems reach a meter in height, their outlines are simple, abundant branching appears only in the inflorescence. Only leaf plates growing in the root zone of the stem have long petioles. Those that are located above are stem, with short petioles. The shape of the leaves is ovoid, lanceolate or oblong.
Flower baskets are small, from which inflorescences of a narrow paniculate shape or in the form of a simple brush are collected. The petals of the flowers are oblong-ovate, with a pointed apex, the edge is ciliate. At the marginal flowers, the tongues have a yellow color.
Goldenrod hybrid (Solidago hybridum) is the ancestor of many varieties, but the original species is still Canadian goldenrod:
- Golden Dwarf has a bushes height of up to half a meter, the inflorescence is up to 17 cm long, consists of yellow flowers, the flowering process has been going on since the beginning of August;
- Golden Mosa can stretch up to a height of 120 cm. The inflorescence is paniculate and reaches 30 cm in length. The flowers have a bright yellow color, flowering in August;
- Goldstrahl reaches a meter in height, inflorescence with paniculate outlines and up to 20 cm long;
- Kronenstrahl, shoots can reach indicators in height of 1, 3 meters, with 25 cm of inflorescence length;
- Schwefelgeiser shrub with stems that grow in height to 1, 4 cm, the shape of the inflorescence - paniculate, consists of flowers of a light yellow color.
For more information on common goldenrod, see here:
