We depend on donations from users of our database of over 8000 edible and useful plants to keep making it available free of charge and to further extend and improve it. In recent months donations are down, and we are spending more than we receive. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Solidago odora - Aiton.

Common Name Sweet Goldenrod, Anisescented goldenrod, Chapman's goldenrod
Family Asteraceae or Compositae
USDA hardiness 3-7
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Dry sterile soil or thin woodlands[43]. Woods and roadsides in Texas[274].
Range Eastern N. America - New Hampshire to Florida, west to Texas and Oklahoma.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Solidago odora Sweet Goldenrod, Anisescented goldenrod, Chapman


USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. Illustrated flora of the northern states and Canada. Vol. 3: 389
Solidago odora Sweet Goldenrod, Anisescented goldenrod, Chapman
James H. Miller @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / James H. Miller and Karl V. Miller. 2005. Forest plants of the southeast and their wildlife uses. University of Georgia Press., Athens.

 

Translate this page:

Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Solidago odora is a PERENNIAL growing to 1.2 m (4ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 3. It is in flower from July to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay and nutritionally poor soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves  Seed
Edible Uses: Condiment  Tea

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].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antiseptic  Aperient  Astringent  Carminative  Diaphoretic  Diuretic  Dysentery  Febrifuge  
Stimulant  Tonic  Urinary

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].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

Now available: PLANTS FOR YOUR FOOD FOREST: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens.

An important new book from PFAF. It focuses on the attributes of plants suitable for food forests, what each can contribute to a food forest ecosystem, including carbon sequestration, and the kinds of foods they yield. The book suggests that community and small-scale food forests can provide a real alternative to intensive industrialised agriculture, and help to combat the many inter-related environmental crises that threaten the very future of life on Earth.

Read More

FOOD FOREST PLANTS

Other Uses

Dye  Essential

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].

Special Uses

Attracts Wildlife  Food Forest  Scented Plants

References   More on Other Uses

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]. For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is a clumper with limited spread [1-2]. The root pattern is fibrous dividing into a large number of fine roots [1-2].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.

Shop Now

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.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Solidago canadensisCanadian Goldenrod, Shorthair goldenrod, Harger's goldenrod, Rough Canada goldenrod, Common GoldenroPerennial1.8 5-10 MLMHSNM221
Solidago canadensis scabraCanadian GoldenrodPerennial1.8 3-7  LMHSNM222
Solidago fistulosaPine barren goldenrodPerennial1.8 0-0  LMHSNM012
Solidago flexicaulisZigzag goldenrodPerennial0.6 3-9 MLMHFSNDM003
Solidago giganteaGiant GoldenrodPerennial1.2 5-9  LMHSNM021
Solidago graminifoliaFlat-Topped GoldenrodPerennial1.5 3-7  LMHSNM111
Solidago japonica Perennial0.0 -  LMHSNM111
Solidago leavenworthiiLeavenworth's goldenrodPerennial1.2 -  LMHSNM012
Solidago missouriensisPrairie Goldenrod, Missouri goldenrod, Tolmie's goldenrodPerennial1.2 6-9  LMHSNDM211
Solidago nemoralisOld-Field Goldenrod, Gray goldenrodPerennial0.3 0-0  LMHSNDM111
Solidago radiata  0.0 -  LMHSNM111
Solidago rigidaStiff Goldenrod, Flat Topped Goldenrod, Stiff GoldenrodPerennial1.2 3-9 FLMHSNM022
Solidago spathulataCoast Goldenrod, Creeping GoldenrodPerennial0.6 4-9 FLMHSNM111
Solidago spectabilisNevada GoldenrodPerennial0.5 6-9  LMHSNM111
Solidago suaveolensanisescented goldenrodPerennial0.0 -  LMHSNM111
Solidago virgaureaGoldenrodPerennial0.6 4-8  LMHSNDM131

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Print Friendly and PDF

Expert comment

Author

Aiton.

Botanical References

43200274

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Solidago odora  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.