The Herbarium
Print plate
Goldenrod botanical plate

Herb. No. 184 · Asteraceae

RangeFig. atlas
Approximate native range — a teaching atlas, not a survey

Canada goldenrod of eastern and central North American meadows, now a roadside plant in Europe too.

Native · North America

Native Also grown
LegalGentleplant

Goldenrod

Solidago canadensis

Medicinal herbsHarvest

A hay-scented late-summer infusion, unfairly blamed for ragweed, useful when the head is thick.

Canada goldenrod is a North American meadow plant now common on roadsides. Flowering tops make a hay-scented tea traditionally used for a thick, allergic head and as a mild urinary herb. Ragweed blooms at the same time and rides the wind; goldenrod’s pollen is heavy and insect-carried. Asteraceae allergy still applies. This is a short late-summer cup, not a year-round pot.

Flavor

Hay, honey, a little bitter green. The flower is the perfume.

Parts used

Flowering tops · Leaf

Helpful

  • Easy to find and dry
  • The ragweed myth is worth knowing

Cautions

  • Asteraceae allergy
  • Spreads in a garden
  • Looks like a weed until you smell it

Field assistant

Ask about traditional use, safety, or the law. The assistant will not teach illegal cultivation or give medical orders.

Related symptoms

allergiescongestionsore throat

Remedies with this plant

  • Nettle before the season

    Adult: 1 tbsp dried nettle per 12 oz, once daily through the season. Elderflower: 1 tsp dried, 8 minutes, as needed. Not a substitute for epinephrine.

  • Goldenrod late-summer cup

    Adult: 1 tsp dried tops per 8 oz, 1–2 times a day through a known stretch, then stop.

Harvest this plant

When to cut, how to dry, and how to store it — garden and kitchen crops only.

Open harvest notes