Solidago odora - Sweet Goldenrod

Family:	Compositae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	1.2
Synonyms:
Range:	Eastern N. America - New Hampshire to Florida, west to Texas and Oklahoma.

Solidago odora (Sweet Goldenrod) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 1.2m . It has a hardness rating of 3.
Sweet Goldenrod will flower in January to February. The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Insects

Soil Information

Sweet Goldenrod will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is / is important for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Sweet Goldenrod prefers either dry or moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Sweet Goldenrod can grow in semi or areas with no shade.

Dry sterile soil or thin woodlands[43].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Grows within a woodland garden
• Grows on a sunny edge
• Works within dappled Shade
• Can be planted in Cultivated Beds

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in any moderately fertile moisture retentive soil in sun or semi-shade[200]. Tolerant of very poor sandy soils[200]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. A rather greedy plant, it is apt to impoverish the soil[1]. The bruised leaves have a smell like a mixture of sassafras and aniseed[245]. The plant attracts various beneficial insects such as ladybirds, lacewings and hoverflies to the garden, these insects will help to control insect pests in the garden[201, 238].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 2/5
Leaves - cooked[177]. Seed[177]. No more details are given but the seed is very small and fiddly to harvest[K]. An aromatic, anise-flavoured tea is made from the dried leaves and dried fully expanded flowers[21, 55, 95, 183]. The blossoms are used as a flavouring[102].

• Condiment - the various plants that are used as flavourings, either as herbs, spices or condiments.
• Leaves -
• Seed - includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.
• Tea - the various herb teas that can be used in place of tea, plus the genuine article.

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 2/5
An infusion of the dried powdered herb is antiseptic[168]. The leaves make a very pleasant-tasting tea that is mildly astringent, carminative, diaphoretic, diuretic, febrifuge and stimulant[21, 95, 207, 222, 257]. It is useful in the treatment of coughs and colds, dysentery and ulceration of the intestines[4, 257]. The essential oil has been used as a diuretic for infants, as a local application for headaches and for the treatment of flatulence and vomiting[4]. The flowers are aperient, astringent and tonic[4]. An infusion is beneficial in the treatment of gravel, urinary obstruction and simple dropsy[4]. The root can be chewed as a treatment for sore mouths[257].

• Antiseptic - Preventing sepsis, decay or putrefaction, it destroys or arrests the growth of micro-organisms.
• Aperient - A mild laxative.
• Astringent - Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.
• Carminative - Reduces flatulence and expels gas from the intestines.
• Diaphoretic - Induces perspiration.
• Diuretic - Acts on the kidneys, promoting the flow of urine.
• Febrifuge - Reduces fevers.
• Stimulant - Excites or quickens activity of the physiological processes. Faster acting than a tonic but differing from a narcotic in that it does not give a false sense of well-being.
• Tonic - Improves general health. Slower acting than a stimulant, it brings steady improvement.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. Only just cover the seed and do not allow the compost to become dry. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle, and grow them on for their first winter in pots. Plant them out into their permanent positions in spring or early summer. Division in spring or autumn. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.

Scented parts of the plants

Leaves : CrushedDried

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

An anise-scented essential oil is obtained from the plant[61]. It is used medicinally[207] and in perfumery - especially for scenting soaps[245]. Mustard, orange and brown dyes can be obtained from the whole plant[168].

• Dye - Plants that provide dyes.
• Essential - Essential oils that are used in perfumery, medicines, paint solvents, insect repellents etc.

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Gray's Manual of Botany.
Fernald. M. L.
Author: Fernald. M. L.
Rating:
Publisher : A bit dated but good and concise flora of the eastern part of N. America.
Date of Publication : 1950

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas
Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J
Author: Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J
Rating: http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm
Publisher : An excellent flora, which is also available on-line.
Date of Publication : 1999

DISCLAIMER: All information published on AussieGardening.com.au is for entertainment purposes only. Readers are encouraged to confirm the information contained here with other sources. The information is not intended to replace medical advice offered by doctors or dietary advice by dieticians. AussieGardening.com.au will not be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, exemplary, or other damages arising therefrom.