Goldenrod (10)
Goldenrods, the Solidago genus, are differentiated by their tiny yellow flowers growing in clusters usually on one side of the stem or in a pyramid. See also Parry's Goldenrod and Western Goldentop.
Tall Goldenrod
Solidago altissima
Family:
Sunflower (Asteraceae)
AKA:
Late Goldenrod, Canada Goldenrod
Photo taken on:
July 28, 2021
Location:
Abiquiu, NM
Life Zones:
Plains to montane
Habitat:
Disturbed areas, open sites
Grows erect to 6 feet tall in colonies with leafy stems. Leaves are up to 7" long, thick and firm with 2 strong veins parallel to the mid-rib, and a few shallow teeth. Flower heads are a showy, branching cluster of flower stalks making a pyramid shape. Flowers grow on one side of the stalk. A single plant can have over 1,000 flowers.
Flora of North America reference.
Sticky Goldenrod
Solidago glutinosa
(S. spathulata var. nana, S simplex var. simplex)
Family:
Sunflower (Asteraceae)
AKA:
Alpine Goldenrod, Western Sticky Goldenrod
Photo taken on:
July 20, 2021
Location:
Pioneer Trail, GV, CO
Life Zones:
Montane to alpine
Habitat:
Rocky meadows
Grows from 2" to 18" high dependent on soil, moisture and elevation. Leaves are smooth, slightly spoon-shaped with rounded teeth at the tips of lower leaves. Flowers grow in clusters around the stem unlike other Goldenrods. Flower heads have less than 12 ray flowers compared to the similar Rocky Mountain Goldenrod, and have shiny, uneven bracts.
Flora of North America reference.
Rocky Mountains Goldenrod
Solidago lepida var. salebrosa
Family:
Sunflower (Asteraceae)
AKA:
Western Canada Goldenrod
Photo taken on:
August 5, 2022
Location:
Roaring Judy Fish Hatchery, GV, CO
Life Zones:
Plains to montane
Habitat:
Sandy and gravelly soils, along streams and rivers
Grows to 5 feet tall in colonies with leafy stems. Leaves have shallow teeth but are not hairy and up to 5" long with 2 veins parallel to the mid-rib. Flower heads are a showy, branching cluster of flower stalks making a pyramid shape. Flowers grow on one side of the stalk. Differentiated from S. altissima by the hairiness of the leaves.
Flora of North America reference.
Missouri Goldenrod
Solidago missouriensis
Family:
Sunflower (Asteraceae)
AKA:
Prairie Goldenrod
Photo taken on:
July 29, 2004
Location:
Almont, CO
Life Zones:
Plains to montane
Habitat:
Roadsides,
grasslands, open woods
Grows 12" to 32" high in colonies with upright basal leaves. Leaves are hairless with a prominent central vein and two parallel veins. Flower heads arch. Blooms earlier than other Goldenrods in the same environment.
Flora of North America reference.
Rocky Mountain Goldenrod
Solidago multiradiata
Family:
Sunflower (Asteraceae)
AKA:
Northern Goldenrod, Mountain
Goldenrod
Photo taken on:
July 20, 2006
Location:
Upper Upper Loop, GV, CO
(9,000ft)
Life Zones:
Montane to alpine
Habitat:
Meadows, slopes
Grows from a few inches high on the tundra, as shown
below, to 18" at lower elevations, as shown at left. Grows in small patches with a reddish stem and mostly basal
leaves. Flower clusters grow around the stem compared to other
Goldenrods. Lower leaves have stalks with hairy margins. Flower heads
have more than 12 ray flowers compared to Sticky
Goldenrod. 
Photo taken on:
July 16, 2006
Location:
Green Lake above Irwin, GV, CO (11,600ft)
There seems to be disagreement between floras about the classification of this species and Solidago glutinosa. I have been guided by SWColoradoWildflowers and the University of Waterloo in my identification.
Flora of North America reference.
Rough Goldenrod
Solidago nana
Family:
Sunflower (Asteraceae)
AKA:
Low Goldenrod, Dwarf Goldenrod, Baby
Goldenrod
Photo taken on:
August 09, 2009
Location:
Wet Mountains, Eastern CO
Life Zones:
Foothills to montane
Habitat:
Dry areas, roadsides
Grows to 20" with leafy, hairy stems. Flowers are in a pyramid shaped cluster. Leaves are rough and hairy.
Flora of North America reference.
Gray Goldenrod
Solidago nemoralis
Family:
Sunflower (Asteraceae)
AKA:
Old-field Goldenrod, Prairie Goldenrod
Photo taken on:
October 10, 2011
Location:
Burnt Mesa, NM
Life Zones:
Foothills
Habitat:
Dry areas, hillsides
Grows to 2 feet with an un-branched stem. The stem is reddish, covered with short white hairs and has small leaflets at the base of the stem leaves. The basal leaves are oblong and taper to a stalk-like base.
Flora of North America reference.
Pale Showy Goldenrod
Solidago speciosa subsp. pallida
Family:
Sunflower (Asteraceae)
AKA:
Photo taken on:
September 1, 2009
Location:
Quemazon Trail, Los Alamos, NM
Life Zones:
Plains to foothills
Habitat:
Dry areas, hillsides, juniper-pinyon woods
Grows to less than 3 feet tall with an erect, un-branched, reddish stem. The flower heads are tall and dense, not drooping or arched like most Goldenrods. Leaves are pale green.
Flora of North America reference.
Three-nerve Goldenrod
Solidago velutina var. sparsiflora (S. sparsiflora)
Family:
Sunflower (Asteraceae)
AKA:
Few-Flowered Goldenrod, Sparse Goldenrod,
Velvety Goldenrod
Photo taken on:
July 20, 2021
Location:
Almont, CO
Life Zones:
Plains to montane
Habitat:
Moist areas, hillsides, meadows, openings
Grows 6" to 32" high in colonies from a basal rosette of
leaves that are sometimes still present at flowering time. The leaves
get progressively smaller higher up on the stem. Each leaf has three
prominent veins running from the base to near the tip.
Flowers grow on one side of the branch and have 6 to 12 petals.
Flower heads can be pyramid-shaped with many branches or have
only one arching branch.
Photo taken on:
July 28, 2014
Location:
Rio Chama, Abiquiu, NM
Flora of North America reference.
Wright's Goldenrod
Solidago wrightii
Family:
Sunflower (Asteraceae)
AKA:
Photo taken on:
September 1, 2009
Location:
Quemazon Trail, Los Alamos, NM
Life Zones:
Plains to foothills
Habitat:
Dry areas, hillsides, juniper-pinyon woods
Grows to 3 feet tall with multiple stems growing from the base. Leaves are broader than other Goldenrods.
Flora of North America reference.