Herb Directory

Goldenrod, a paradoxical plant, has a colorful history.

To North Americans, it’s often seen as a roadside weed, yet Europeans cultivate it as an ornamental for sunny borders.

Its reputation as a wound-healing herb dates back centuries. The genus Solidago, comprising 60 to 130 species, produces slender stems crowned with tufts of tiny yellow or gold flowers.

Most goldenrod species are native to North America, including blue-stemmed goldenrod, gray goldenrod, and early goldenrod. In Europe, the robust European goldenrod (S. virgaurea) grows in open woodlands but lacks the glamour of its North American relatives. Sweet goldenrod (S. odora), with its slight purple cast and translucent-dotted leaves, is commonly seen in herb gardens.

Long before Europeans arrived, Native Americans appreciated its taste, even flavoring other medicinals with it, although it has its own therapeutic effects on urinary health.