EMILY de CAMP HERBARIUM

COMMON NAME: Seaside Goldenrod
OTHER COMMON NAME(S): Yellow Weed
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Solidago sempervirens
FAMILY: Asteraceae
COMMUNITY: Secondary Dune
STATUS: Native
LIFESPAN: Perennial
HEIGHT: One and one half to eight feet
FLOWERING TIME: August-November
FRUITING TIME:
DISTRIBUTION:

IDENTIFYING
CHARACTERISTICS: Smooth, fleshy leaves clasp smooth, stout stem ~ Showy golden-yellow blossoms

GENERAL INFORMATION: Goldenrods belong to the largest group of flowering plants, the asters. They have small flowers grouped into a head that gives the appearance of a single flower. Goldenrods are a diverse group of plants, often difficult to identify due to their tendency to hybridize. They are grouped according to their flowering patterns. Seaside Goldenrod is of the ‘clublike’ variety, though it can assume a more graceful, ‘plumelike’ head.

While Seaside Goldenrod is primarily found in the secondary dune community, it can also be seen on the primary dune. Its fleshy leaves and stout stems protect it from the ever present salt spray of that community. Here it plays an important role in stabilizing the constantly shifting sand. In addition, mice and songbirds eat its seeds, while rabbits feed on the stems and leaves. Seaside Goldenrod blooms well into the fall, its nectar is the primary food source of migrating monarch butterflies.

Contrary to popular belief, insect-pollinated goldenrods are not a cause of seasonal allergies since few people are allergic to this nectar producing plant. Ragweed, which blooms at the same time as the goldenrods produces airborne pollen and is the real culprit.

Please note: While harvesting wild berries/fruit is permitted at Island Beach State Park, visitors must adhere to park regulations at all times and must not damage vegetation or go off designated trails. This information is presented for educational purposes only.ark. New Jersey, 08752.