Early Goldenrod - Solidago gigantea

Description

The golden flower spikes are similar to Canadian Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis). In Early Goldenrod the upper surface of the leaves and the stem are practically hairless. A tall rhizomatous plant growing to 2.5 metres.

Identification difficulty
ID checklist (your specimen should have all of these features)

Leaves serrate, at least near apex; leaves glabrous or hairy only on lower veins; stems more or less glabrous below flower head

Recording advice

Either obtain confirmation from a County Recorder before submitting a record, or submit detailed images showing key features.  We recommend that you take and retain a specimen; the County Recorder may wish to see this for confirmation. 

Habitat

It often forms dense monocultures on wasteland, roadside and railway verges.

When to see it

In flower during July, August, September and October.

Life History

Perennial.

UK Status

Fairly widespread in Britain.

VC55 Status

Infrequent or under recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 3 of the 617 tetrads.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Early Goldenrod
Species group:
flowering plant
Kingdom:
Plantae
Order:
Asterales
Family:
Asteraceae
Records on NatureSpot:
6
First record:
24/08/1996 (Steve Woodward)
Last record:
16/08/2025 (Graves, Hazel)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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