Fauna
Plant · GBIF taxon 5388923

Sweet Goldenrod

Solidago odora

Also known as Anisescented Goldenrod, Fragrant Goldenrod, Blue Mountain Tea

Sweet goldenrod stands apart from its many look-alikes by the distinctive anise or licorice scent released whenever its narrow leaves are bruised. Found across dry pine barrens and sandy openings, it produces graceful, one-sided arching plumes of brilliant yellow blossoms from midsummer into late autumn. Colonists famously harvested and dried the fragrant foliage to brew a beverage known as Liberty Tea following the Boston Tea Party boycott.

AromaticWildflowerLate Bloomer
Sweet Goldenrod reference1 / 7
Licensed referenceEric Hunt / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
—observations
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Autotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Predators
  • White-tailed Deer
  • Eastern Cottontail
ThreatsHabitat destruction, fire suppression, and displacement by invasive brush
HabitatsSandy pine barrens, open oak-pine woods, dry clearings, and coastal plains
Life spanPerennial (several to many years)
Classification
  1. OrderAsterales
  2. FamilyAsteraceae
  3. GenusSolidago
  4. SpeciesSolidago odora
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Identification: Gently crush a mature leaf between your fingers to check for a distinct licorice fragrance.
  • Pollinator Watching: Inspect blooming plumes on sunny autumn afternoons to observe native bees, skippers, and wasps.
  • Gardening: Cultivate in dry, sandy, or acidic soils in full sun where it forms well-behaved, non-invasive clumps.
Related species
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