Goldenrod

Like Goldenrod, other members of the Aster family include Black-Eyed Susan, Chamomile, Coneflower, Fringed Aster,  Ox-eye daisy, Sage, Smooth Aster, and Yarrow.

Goldenrod and Yarrow are the most prolific plants in the garden.

• Goldenrod is incredibly common, can be found in every state and province, over 100 types in Canada and USA
• Prefers full sun to light shade, cannot grow with complete shade
• Enjoys consistent moisture, but can tolerate some drought and some flooding
• Easily confused with Ragweed (image below)

Nearby plants & insects

• The goldenrod had lots of another plant growing nearby called Vetch (thanks Rose!).
• Some bees in the area

Soil type & Sunlight

• Soil was darker, and somewhat moist
• Enjoys the sunlight as every time I saw it, it was directly on the edge of the path in the least shaded spot

 

Growth Cycle

• Perennial plant
  • A few years to long-lived
• Early bloomer
  • I saw it in mid July and it looks like it had been fully bloomed for a while

Goldenrod has been used traditionally by Indigenous people for thousands of years.  Maria taught us that Goldenrod is good at mixing with other medicines.

• Used topically and internally
  • Internally - Urinary, digestive, and respiratory systems
  • Topically – Wrap the leaves around infections, sores, toothache, burns, insect bites and stings.
• It is anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial

For kidney, bladder, or constipation problems the Goldenrod leaves and stems can be boiled into a drink.  (Marles et al., p.136)  The tea is used to treat and prevent kidney stones (Gray, p. 100).

The root is used for burns, the flower tea for snakebites & fever, and the floweres chewed for sore throats.  Goldenrod may be relevant for antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains (Foster & Duke, p. 169).

Goldenrod contains quercetin which is an antihistamine.  Quercetin may also help prevent prostate cancer.  (Gray, p. 99-100)

Goldenrod also contains saponins which work against the fungus that causes vaginal and oral thrush (Gray, p. 100).  The saponins are contained in the flowers and can be used for both astringent and diuretic effects.  The Root Woman wrote about Goldenrod telling the upper intestine to cause a reflex action in the lungs to loosen the mucous (Keane, 1996). 

When dried leaves and flowers are powdered, they can be applied to a wound to stop the bleeding (Gray, p. 100).  To dry weeping sores, a cold Goldenrod wash can help (Dene Elder, published in Marles et al., p. 136).

The flowers and leaves are used for hay fever in an infusion or tincture (Keane, 2003, p. 43).

 

 

 

 

The seeds are eaten as a survival food (Foster & Duke, p. 169).

You can eat the flowers.  Toss them in salad or use them as cake decorations (Gray, p. 99).  The flowers can treat acne (Gray, p. 101).

The leaves can be cooked like spinach (Gray, p, 101).

The flowers produce a yellow dye.

Rinse your hair in the tea and dry in the sun for golden highlights! (Gray, p. 101).

At any time of the year, you may find galls on the Goldenrod stems.  These galls can be cut open to find grubs inside.  These grubs can be used as fish bait, or even cooked as emergency food.  (Métis Elder, published in Marles et al., p. 136)