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You were told from birth that it made you sniffle and sneeze, and you're sure it also causes the tears to flow. At the same time, it is such a beautiful sea of gold in the field next to yours, you have no choice but to admire it. Here is another look at Goldenrod.
"I know the lands are lit with all the blaze of Goldenrod." ....Helen Hunt Jackson
Solidago altissima is the goldenrod that I grew up with in the mountains of southeast Kentucky. I am told that Kentucky has more than 30 of the nearly 100 identified Solidago species. I probably saw more than 30 myself while roaming those mountains, but I was too young to know the difference. Goldenrod was simply goldenrod, and it never made me sneeze. I loved the plant and the bright yellow blooms that showed themselves when we were close to summer's end. There are certain scents, not easy to describe, that we associate with fall, and the scent of the goldenrod is one that I remember.
It is Kentucky's state flower, and has been since 1926 when a group of Kentucky Women's Clubs stormed the state capitol and demanded that it be adopted because it is native to all of Kentucky. Not being a government that was ready to admit defeat brought about by a storm of women, the men hemmed and hawed around and finally agreed to adopt it. Not too many years later, though, goldenrod was nearly toppled from its throne by another bunch of more dignified manly creatures who decided goldenrod was beneath their dignity, and they wanted a flowering tree to be the state's blossom. The battle was on, would it be the dogwood or the redbud for the men, or would it be the goldenrod for the women? Well, of course you know the rest of the story. What man stands a chance when it comes to the choice of a flower? And what man has a chance when a woman makes up her mind? It was not easy and for awhile it looked like a royal knock down drag out battle would occur when the redbud was approved in the House, but at the last minute, it lost in the Senate. Goldenrod was back to take it's place among the most stately of all the flowers. Even now, goldenrod appears on the Kentucky state flag.
Before we go into the legends and the lore that surround goldenrod, I must tell you that it has no allergens. It is not goldenrod that brings on your fits of sneezing, but the inconspicuous ragweed that grows in the same conditions, the same area, and at the same time. The heavy sticky pollen of goldenrod is not wind-borne, because many different insects take over the task of its pollination. Even when my mother sealed her windows and turned the air filters as high as they would go every fall, I could never convince her that goldenrod had been wrongly accused.
Goldenrod flowers from August through November here in Kentucky. It is commonly found in fallow fields, bottomland, rocky outcrops, open woods, roadsides and railroads. It is very difficult to avoid with its huge clusters of tiny yellow flowers. The Chippewa Indians called it gizisomukiki, which means sun medicine. The plant has been mentioned medicinally for a number of ailments, among them it was considered a treatment for sores and cuts. Goldenrod has a long and colorful history throughout many parts of the world.
The Great Saladin (1137-93) who rose to be a caliph of Egypt, and who fought King Richard in the Third Crusade, greatly treasured goldenrod as a medicine. He introduced it to the Middle East and there it long remained as an important crop. When it was introduced as a medicinal herb in Elizabethan England, it commanded high prices. That was not very long lasting, however; when it was found growing wild its prices and popularity plummeted dramatically. Brews of goldenrod were also popular in history. In Europe, the leaves were concocted into a brew known as Blue Mountain Wine, and teas were brewed as well in North America particularly by Native Americans. After the Boston Tea Party, when the rebellious American colonists had dumped all their tea into Boston Harbor, they discovered they had lost their favorite beverage. Not to be deterred for very long, they found that an excellent tea could be made from the leaves of the North American goldenrod, and they named it Liberty Tea. There is another fact about goldenrod that has always been of interest to me, the flowers of the goldenrod can be made into a wonderful dye for cloth. If you are an artist, the dye can also be used much in the same way as watercolor when applied to porous papers; the same principle applies to other natural dyes as well. When I paint pictures of wildflowers, I often use natural dyes instead of watercolors.
Legends surround goldenrod. The stiff stem of the plant was historically used as a divining rod, but that was only successful if used by the right person. Another belief is whenever golden rod grows near a house, its occupants will have good fortune. Still another holds that wherever goldenrod grows, there can be found buried treasure.
My favorite legend was told to me by my Granny Ninna many years ago: "Two little girls were very close friends, one was golden blond and the other was dark haired with beautiful blue eyes. They were afraid that when they grew up they might be parted from each other, so they didn't want to grow up. To solve their problem, the two little girls set out one day to visit the good witch who lived across the field far away. They came to the good witch after a long day of travel and told her of their wish to always be together. The little girls were never seen again, but whenever you see the golden yellow bloom of the goldenrod you will be sure to find the sweet blue aster always beside her."
I do hope you will enjoy the beauty of goldenrod this season. Keep tissues handy because ragweed is sure to be lurking among all the golden blooms.
Also used as a source were the notes collected from my family.
Photos are from Plant Files. Thanks to these photographers: pford, McGlory, and htop.
About Sharon Brown
I am a retired high school art and humanities teacher. I grew up in the Appalachian mountains of southeast KY and now I live with my two rescued cats, Jazz and Daisy, in far western KY. I am an artist often doing commissioned work, and in addition to writing articles for Dave's Garden, I also write boating stories for a nautical magazine. My greatest love is gardening, and learning the history of my state and its numerous wildflowers.
Posted by rlcraft (from Albion, IN) on August 29, 2008 at 10:07 PM:
I have found your Legend about 2 little girls, but years ago in Reminisce or Country Women, they had a story about 2 Native American a Brave & a Maiden that died and the area grew Goldenrod & Blue Asters but I can not find this version any where !
Thought you or your readers might know? Love your site
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Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on August 29, 2008 at 10:18 PM:
No, I never heard that legend, but it sounds equally heart touching.
Thank you so much for reading the article, and for writing to me.
Where is Albion, Indiana?
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Posted by rlcraft (from Albion, IN) on August 29, 2008 at 10:42 PM:
About 30 miles North West of Fort Wayne
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Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on August 29, 2008 at 11:04 PM:
Way up there, then.
I have a ton of relatives in southern Indiana and in Indianapolis.
One of my favorite places.
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Posted by rlcraft (from Albion, IN) on August 30, 2008 at 7:16 PM:
Where are you in Kentucky? I have 3 sisters that live in Salyersville!
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Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on August 30, 2008 at 7:20 PM:
Salyersville is very near where I grew up, but I live in western KY now, near KY and Barkley Lakes, near Paducah.
My mom visited some Adams relatives in Salyersville quite often years ago.
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Subject: Goldenrod
Posted by theherbalkitty (from Brooklyn, CT) on August 25, 2008 at 11:04 AM:
Hi, Sharron,
I'm fairly new to the site but I love your stories about Aunt Bett. I was certified as an herbalist with Apollo Herbs (RI) last December. I love the article about Goldenrod! I knew it was the Ragweed that caused the sneezing/allergic reactions and not the Goldenrod but wanted to add that a tea brewed from the dried flowerheads will actually inhibit the allergic reaction to the Ragweed. Nature always provides the anecdote if you know where to look, which I'm sure you know from such a learned teacher as your Aunt Bett. She sounds like someone I would've loved, too. =) Thanks for sharing!
The Herbal Kitty
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Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on August 25, 2008 at 11:15 AM:
Hi Kitty,
Nice to hear from you. I didn't know about the tea, guess Aunt Bett didn't either. Thanks for telling me, though. Maybe I can mention it to the next one who sneezes and blames goldenrod.
Thank you for writing. Don't stay away, I might someday need your help for verification!
Sharon
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Subject: Love Goldenrod
Posted by Aunt_A (from Tulsa, OK) on August 21, 2008 at 1:17 AM:
Great article. I grew up with Goldenrod in Upstate NY. It was just always part of my life; we considered it a weed but I loved it.
I loved to run the blossoms through my fingers and I loved how happy it was growing without special attention. I loved to smear the blossoms on things, too.
Somehow, I don't think it likes Oklahoma as much. And for that reason, neither do I. Okay, I don't really mean that but I like how it sounded in my head. LOL. I've seen Goldenrod for sale in the Box stores and that was funny to me. A weed for sale.
Thanks again for your article; you know a lot of information!
April
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Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on August 21, 2008 at 10:12 AM:
That happens when you live long enough and never remember to delete!! Sorta like too much memory!.
Thanks for writing, April....as always, made me smile.
Sharon
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Subject: Learn something new every day!
Posted by edelseu (from Hicksville, NY) on August 19, 2008 at 7:17 PM:
I didn't know that goldenrod was NOT responsible for sneezing! I remember, like everyone else, I suppose, being told to avoid it, as a child. Especially as was always sneezing, and had lots of sinus infections when I was young.
Gene
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Posted by nanny_56 (from Putnam County, IN) on August 19, 2008 at 7:19 PM:
I have tried and tried to convince people about this, but they just don't believe it!!
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Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on August 19, 2008 at 7:24 PM:
But now we know, don't we?
Happy Goldenrod season!
Thanks for writing.
Sharon
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Posted by Sheila_FW (from Fort Worth, TX) on August 20, 2008 at 12:12 AM:
Very well written, definately informative, and with just a plain old fashion warm feeling!
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Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on August 20, 2008 at 12:13 AM:
Thanks, Sheila...
I like those warm feelings when I read, too.
Sharon
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Subject: Another winner
Posted by Hemophobic (from Kannapolis, NC) on August 19, 2008 at 1:00 PM:
Sharon, another great story. I purchased solidago last year at Plant Delights Nursery in Apex and have it in my Asheville garden. I think it's lovely in fall with the blue asters.
Angie
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Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on August 19, 2008 at 1:06 PM:
Thanks, Angie...again nice to hear from you. And I am glad you enjoy it with the blue asters. I have always thought they belong together, just like my Ninna told me.
sharon
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Posted by heavenscape (from JayeVille, NC) on August 19, 2008 at 1:39 PM:
Thanks Shar, I have a new respect now for golden rods. They grow wild here too and have always love their sunny disposition
Didn't know the ragweeds are the culprits.. thanks again Shar... great article!
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Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on August 19, 2008 at 2:15 PM:
Thank you, Jaye. Glad you enjoyed.
I especially like the legend of the two little girls.
Sharon
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Posted by irisMA (from South Hamilton, MA) on August 19, 2008 at 4:50 PM:
We have several varieties of GR growing on our property (don't ask me which). The only person I know of allergic to it was the Dad of one of our daughter's friends. He would get a rash on his arms from it, true about not having pollen spread by wind.
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Posted by irisMA (from South Hamilton, MA) on August 19, 2008 at 4:50 PM:
We have several varieties of GR growing on our property (don't ask me which). The only person I know of allergic to it was the Dad of one of our daughter's friends. He would get a rash on his arms from it, true about not having pollen spread by wind.
...
Posted by irisMA (from South Hamilton, MA) on August 19, 2008 at 4:50 PM:
We have several varieties of GR growing on our property (don't ask me which). The only person I know of allergic to it was the Dad of one of our daughter's friends. He would get a rash on his arms from it, true about not having pollen spread by wind.
...
Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on August 19, 2008 at 5:46 PM:
Iris, yes...a lot of people get rashes from the leaves or stems of plants, always unique to the individual.
It is a lovely plant, one I always enjoy seeing in late fall.
Thank you for writing.
Sharon
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Posted by Soulja (from Louisville, KY) on August 19, 2008 at 9:51 PM:
great one Shar. I'll just leave it to you (and Aunt Bett & Ninna) from now on to make my wish list for me, then tell me why I want that plant and what I can do with it. I swear each time I'm out at the nursery I see the plant you just wrote about. Do you plan this?
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Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on August 19, 2008 at 9:56 PM:
thanks, soulja!
Maybe it's just a seasonal coincidence.
Sharon
