Goldenrod is a bright and fragrant herb from the Astro family. It is found in temperate climates throughout Eurasia. From Germany to the Caucasus and Siberia, on the steppes and manicured courtyards, the plant pleases with bright colors and many useful properties. It is used in landscape design, as well as as a medicinal plant for a mass of ailments. Among the people, the goldenrod is also known by the names of solidago, golden rod, scrofula, iron ore, bones. Caring for it is simple, but it quickly occupies large areas, therefore, it requires strict restriction or the availability of a spacious plot.
Plant description
Goldenrod is a perennial herb with a long stem root. The lignifying rhizome goes deep into the ground. On the surface there is a weakly branched shoot 30-100 cm high. An upright tetrahedral stem is covered by a smooth bark. It may be green or reddish.
Regular leaves on short petioles have an oval or ovoid shape. The lower leaves are narrowed and elongated stronger than the upper ones. The edges of the sheet plate are serrate. The stem and leaves have a very short, barely noticeable pubescence.
In May-September, goldenrod blooms. In the axils of the upper leaves, dense corymbose inflorescences bloom. They consist of many yellow bell-shaped buds. The length of the flowers is 4-8 mm. On the edges are bells with yellow petals. The central specimens are brownish-yellow in color. The buds open from the edge of the inflorescence to the center.
After pollination, the fruits are tied - achenes of a cylindrical shape with longitudinal ribs. Their length is 3-4 mm. The pubescent coating of the walls ends with a brown tuft.
Popular views
The genus of goldenrod has more than 100 species. Of these, less than ten are used in culture.
Common goldenrod is the most common. It can be found in the vastness of Eurasia and North Africa. The height of the herbaceous plant with slightly branched shoots is 60-130 cm. The oval leaves at the base of the stem have petioles, and the upper leaf plates are sessile. Rounded and cylindrical inflorescences bloom in June-August. The plant is used for medicinal purposes and is a good honey plant.
Goldenrod Canadian. The plant is distributed on the foothills of eastern North America and in Eurasia. Its stems are distinguished by larger sizes (50-150 cm). The upper part of the shoot and foliage are densely covered with short villi. Broad-lanceolate leaves with serrated edges are 12-15 cm long. Blooms in August-September with narrow yellow inflorescences.
The goldenrod is hybrid. This species became the progenitor of most decorative varieties. Plants are more compact in size and beautiful foliage. Even without flowers, they cause keen interest among gardeners. The most popular varieties:
- Strakhlenkron - branched shoots up to 80 cm high are covered with ovoid bright green leaves, a thick bright yellow inflorescence adorns the top of the stem;
- goldtanne - a bush up to 2 m high spreads in mid-September dense yellow-orange inflorescences about 50 cm long;
- spatgold - the height of the bush with lemon inflorescences does not exceed 80 cm;
- perkeo - compact bushes up to 50 cm high at the beginning of August are covered with bright yellow dense inflorescences.
Goldenrod highest. Shoots of this species reach 2 m in height. They form slender thickets covered with bright green whole-leaf foliage. In early August, bright yellow inflorescences 30-40 cm long bloom in solidago. They remain on the plant for about 50 days.
Breeding methods
Reproduction of goldenrod can be carried out in the following ways:
- Sowing seeds. You need to sow seeds that are no more than a year old, since they quickly lose their germination. Do it immediately in the open ground. In spring, when the temperature is set at + 18 ° C and higher, shallow holes are made in the designated area and they try to evenly distribute the seeds in them. The soil is moderately moistened. Shoots can be detected after 14-20 days. In the first year, seedlings rarely bloom.
- Division of the bush. After the first year of life, the goldenrod gives root processes, however, division is best done after 3-4 years. In spring or summer, bushes can be divided into several parts. A distance of 40 cm must be left between the seedlings.
- Rooting cuttings. For rooting, use the upper parts of the stem without inflorescences. In the summer, lateral processes can be cut. Rooting is done in pots with a sand-peat mixture. After 1-2 weeks, the seedlings grow roots, and after another 14-20 days they are ready for transplanting to a permanent place.
Care Rules
Goldenrod is a lightweight, tenacious plant. Busy or lazy gardeners will like it. The flower prefers well-lit areas of the garden. On them, solidago grows better and forms more buds. It can also withstand a small partial shade, but in this case, flowering will begin later.
Fertile soils with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction are suitable for planting. The plant can adapt to depleted, heavy soils. Goldenrod needs regular watering, but without stagnation of water in the ground. Frequent droughts lead to disease and reduced flowering.
Fertilizer goldenrod is necessary only on poor soils. Excess minerals leads to a strong pasture of stems and a decrease in flowering. Mullein or universal mineral fertilizers can be used. Solutions are brought into the earth monthly until flowering is complete.
To avoid abundant self-seeding, it is recommended to cut off the inflorescences immediately after wilting. This will protect the site from full capture by goldenrod. Tall bushes should be tied up or propped up. In autumn, the shoots are almost completely cut, leaving only 10-15 cm of shoots above the soil surface. Plants are resistant to frost and do not require additional shelter.
Diseases and pests rarely affect goldenrod. Sometimes he suffers from aster rust and powdery mildew. Fungicides will help defeat fungal diseases. Parasites can move from neighboring infected plants. Spruce shoots suffer most from slugs and caterpillars. Preventive treatment with insecticides will help protect the bushes from parasites.
Using Goldenrod
Goldenrod is suitable for use in landscaping. Hybrid varieties of goldenrod are more suitable for a combined flowerbed, as they do not self-sow and do not inhibit neighboring plants. They are used in mixborders, discounts, rock gardens and rockeries. Yellow bushes are good in the vicinity of conifers, as well as flowering phlox, sage, and asters. This beautiful honey plant will attract many beneficial insects and butterflies to the site.
Goldenrod looks great not only on the lawn, but also in a vase. The bouquet will last up to two weeks and will spread a pleasant, unobtrusive aroma. You can use flowers to dry.
Composition and medicinal properties
Goldenrod Canadian and ordinary are widely used in traditional medicine and veterinary medicine. They contain a large amount of organic acids, saponins, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, polysaccharides, fatty oils and other bioactive substances.
Medicinal raw materials in the form of leafy stems and inflorescences are collected during the flowering period. Dry them in a well-ventilated area. After drying, it is recommended to thresh and remove dense stems. The resulting material is stored in fabric bags or paper bags for a year.
Broth, tea, honey and infusions of goldenrod have the following effects on the body:
- expectorant;
- antimicrobial;
- diuretic;
- wound healing;
- anti-inflammatory.
Folk doctors say that with the help of goldenrod, you can get rid of kidney stones, intoxication of the body and diarrhea, menstrual irregularities, urological disorders, as well as sexually transmitted diseases.
Contraindications
It is important to remember that in addition to useful properties, there are contraindications. Goldenrod contains a small amount of toxins, which, with an overdose, adversely affect the body. Solidago-based medications are contraindicated in pregnant and lactating women, as well as children under 14 years of age. The plant can not be used for diseases of the kidneys and circulatory system, as well as in the presence of allergies. If you feel unwell, you should immediately stop taking the drugs and consult a doctor.
