Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) — Plotwright

›

›

Canada goldenrod

Habit (mature) · Daniel McClosky / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

Limited coverage

Canada goldenrod

Solidago canadensis

A widespread native North American perennial with plumes of bright yellow flowers in late summer + fall — among the most ecologically critical late-season pollinator plants. Spreads aggressively by rhizomes; site where the spreading habit is welcome (meadows, restorations) rather than tight borders.

Native: 27 US states + 5 CA provinces

Review: Source-backed

Climate fit: broad (76/100)

Pollinator

Border

Light

Full sun

Water

Consistent moisture

Mature size

36-72" tall · 24" apart

Hardy in zones

5a-9b

very cold to frosty winters

Summer heat range

Cool-Hot

cool to hot summers Interim Plotwright tier until the plant AHS range is authored.

Native in Illinois

Yes

Related products

Sponsored

Watering and irrigation

Watering cans, soaker hoses, drip kits, moisture meters, and timers.

Search watering and irrigation on Amazon →

Moisture retention

Mulch, watering rings, compost, coconut coir, and soil-cover supplies.

Search moisture retention on Amazon →

Heat and sun protection

Shade cloth, shade hoops, cooling mulch, and heat-stress monitoring tools.

Search heat and sun protection on Amazon →

Transplanting and establishment

Trowels, transplant spades, starter fertilizer, root stimulators, and watering bags.

Search transplanting and establishment on Amazon →

Pest and disease monitoring

Sticky traps, hand lenses, sprayers, disease-monitoring tools, and pest barriers.

Search pest and disease monitoring on Amazon →

Plant support

Stakes, cages, trellises, ties, clips, arbors, and heavy-duty supports.

Search plant support on Amazon →

Plotwright may earn a commission from purchases made through these links, at no extra cost to you.

Native across 32 US states and Canadian provinces — a wide-ranging part of North America's plant communities.

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Cold hardiness

Now

Zone 6b

USDA

Chicago, IL · 1991-2020 average annual coldest day

Source: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (1991-2020 climatology) via ArcGIS FeatureServer

Well-suited

2050

Zone 7b

Plotwright

Your zone + climate-model shift · SSP3-7.0 (regional rivalry)

Well-suited

In plain terms: cold winters — coldest nights typically around -3°F.

✓

Well-suited today and still thriving in 2050.

Heat tolerance

°C

°F

Loading current AHS heat-zone and plant heat-fit data at your coordinates…

Where this plant fits

Suitable across 41 ecoregions — 39 climate-resilient through 2070 · 1 suited today · 1 newly possible by 2070. Best matches first.

Appalachian mixed mesophytic forests

Appalachian-Blue Ridge forests

Arizona Mountains forests

Atlantic coastal pine barrens

Blue Mountains forests

Canadian Aspen forests and parklands

Central Pacific Northwest coastal forests

Central Tallgrass prairie

Central-Southern Cascades Forests

Chilean Matorral

Sources & citations

Cite this page

For lesson plans, articles, or research that uses this page. To cite a single upstream fact instead, use its specific source listed below.

Plotwright. (2026, May 17). Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis). Retrieved 2026, June 5, from https://plotwright.garden/plants/canada-goldenrod

Sources for every fact

Every fact on this page traces to a source. 18 fields cited — 18 source-backed.

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

University extension service

Backs 17 fields

Identity

Summary

Plant type

Light

Moisture

Hardiness

Heat zone

Size

Spacing

Habit

Design roles

Seasonal interest

Growth stages

Lifecycle

Regional guidance

Success tips

Designer notes

Wikimedia Commons

Photo · CC BY-SA 4.0

Backs 1 field

Image

Community photos

The photos above are our reviewed reference set, curated for accuracy.

Plotwright

Climate-aware plant planning — every plant checked against your zone now and in 2050.

support@arteractive.co

Explore

Reference

Policies

© 2026 Plotwright