Seaside Goldenrod, is an herbaceous perennial wildflower often found on beaches, dunes, salt marshes, and pinelands. This plant is highly salt tolerant and deer resistant. The plant produces basal leaves topped by 2 to 8 foot stalks. The terminal or upper axillary flowering heads are dense, the lowest branches somewhat recurved. Arching branches bear one-sided clusters of large, bright yellow flower heads. Pinch the growing tips in June for a more compact plant. This goldenrod does not spread by rhizomes or become invasive. Goldenrods have been wrongfully accused of causing hay fever which is actually an allergic reaction to wind-borne pollen from ragweed. The Goldenrod genus contains about 120 species, most with similar characteristics. The Seaside Goldenrod may get confused with one of its cousins. This plant is deer resistant. This plant can be used in the back of the border in poor sandy soils. Do not fertilize this goldenrod. Habitat: Coastal dunes, dune slacks, maritime wet grasslands, tidal marshes Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. Rust, powdery mildew, and leaf spot may occur. VIDEO: Part of the Native Plant Picks series from the North Carolina Sea Grant led Coastal Landscapes Initiative . More information on Solidago .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Sand
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry | Occasionally Wet
NC region
Coastal
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Oblanceolate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Fleshy; Smooth; Waxy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Upper leaves are 2 to 8 inches long, .5 inches wide, lanceolate and sessile. Basal leaves are narrowly ovate to oblanceolate tapering to a winged petiole. Up to 22 inches long and 1.5 to 2.5 inches wide. They are thick and fleshy.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower form
Panicle
Flower shape
Radial
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Bright yellow ray and disc flowers on club-shaped panicle, often leafy at the base. Flower heads often borne on one side of arching floral branches. 7 to 10 petals. Blooms from August to November.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Oval achenes with tufts of hair. Displays from September to December.
Stem detail
Leafy, erect or arching. Rise up to 8 feet from the basel mound.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Eastern Canada, United States, and Caribbean
Wildlife value
This plant supports Wavy-lined Emerald (Synchlora aerata) larvae. Seaside Goldenrod attracts bees and butterflies. Members of the genus Solidago support the following specialized bees: Andrena (Callandrena s.l.) asteris, Andrena (Callandrena s.l.) braccata, Andrena (Cnemidandrena) hirticincta, Andrena (Cnemidandrena) nubecula, Andrena (Callandrena s.l.) simplex, Perdita (Perdita) octomaculata, Melissodes (Eumelissodes) fumosus, Colletes simulans, and Colletes solidaginis.