Western Goldenrod | Solidago lepida (var. salebrosa) - Benton Soil And Water Conservation District

Western Goldenrod | Solidago lepida (var. salebrosa)

The image features a plant with vibrant yellow flowers clustered together, set against green foliage.

The image features dense vegetation with tall green plants and vibrant yellow flowers, indicating a flourishing natural landscape.

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Western Goldenrod has showy yellow flower sprays that bloom in late summer. The flowers are valuable to butterflies, bees, and other insects. It is a very fast growing rhizomatous plant that forms dense bright patches on open land. Often forms colonies. (Search google images for photos, none available to post here that aren’t copyrighted.)

Plant Details

Habitats	Upland Prairie and Savanna, Bottomland Forests, Mixed Hardwood-Conifer Forest or Woodland, Wet Prairie
Habitat Notes	Typically found on historic farmlands, pastures, fields, thickets, prairies, waste areas and roadsides. Quickly spreading rhizomatous plant, drought tolerant, good for riparian plantings.
Phenology	Perennial; flowering June-October
Mature Height	2-3 ft
Shade Preference	Full sun, part shade
Soil Tolerance	Moist, slightly acidic, well-drained soils
Special Uses	Provides vital pollen & nectar for butterflies, bees and other insects; Deer resistant

A close-up of a bee collecting nectar from delicate pink flowers, showcasing nature's pollination process.

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Upland Prairie and Savanna

Upland prairies or open grasslands are among the most threatened ecosystems in Oregon. Historically, they occurred across the Willamette Valley and are vegetated by perennial grasses and annual or…

Bottomland Forests

Bottomland forests are generally used to describe forests which are comprised of both hardwood and softwood tree species that occur on low-elevation, alluvial floodplains or lower terraces of rivers…

A dense forest with tall trees and lush green undergrowth.

Mixed Hardwood-Conifer Forest or Woodland

Mixed hardwoods and conifers characterize this habitat which is widespread in western Oregon in the medium elevations of the hills of the Coast Range. Precipitation is higher in this habitat than in…

Wet Prairie

Wet prairies were once a common habitat in the floodplain of the Willamette River. These habitats occur on poorly drained clay soils or shallow soils above bedrock. Seasonal flooding creates anaerobic…