Solidago gigantea (Giant Goldenrod) - photos and description
Stems
glabrous
Upper stem
leaves in above photo
Lower stem
leaves in above photo
General: Stout species with a leafy stem. Stems single, plants rhizomatous and glabrous.
This plant has a wide distribution in North America found in every province in Canada except Newfoundland, and every state in the United States.
Solidago gigantea is a highly invasive, non-native in Europe and Asia.
Flowers: Inflorescence a pyramidal-shaped panicle. The inflorescence measured at 16 cm wide by 11 cm tall, a flower head measured at 2 mm diameter.
Leaves: Leaves alternate, elliptical, sharp-toothed above the middle, top leaves sessile, lower leaves have short petioles. Lower leaf highlighted in photo above was measured at 8 cm long by 22 mm wide (including very short petiole).
Height: Height listed in Budd's Flora to 150 cm, we measured plants to 92 cm tall.
Habitat: Bluffs, coulees, and woodlands.
Abundance: Common.
Origin: Native.
Similar species: Very similar to Solidago altissima and Solidago lepida, however those species have pubescent stems, while the stems of Solidago gigantea are glabrous.
When and where photographed: Photos taken July 28th, scrubby meadow beside aspen grove, East Block Grasslands Park, about 300 km southwest of our home in Regina, SK.