Solidago bicolor

abc

Perennial. Typical height is from 3 to 4 feet. Stems are solitary or clustered from a branched caudex or from short rhizomes, and are conspicuously pubescent with spreading hairs.

The inflorescence is open, with few ascending branches, or sometimes unbranched (then wand-like).

Flower heads are radiate, not arranged one-sided on branches. Ray and disc floret corollas are typically white; however forms with pale yellow florets occur (rarely). These may be possible hybrids with closely-related yellow-flowered species. Other than corolla color, they are similar to the typical white-flowered forms.

Basal and lower stem leaves may be persistent at flowering. They are obovate or oblanceolate in outline, toothed, and borne on winged petioles. Mid- to upper stem leaves rapidly become smaller and narrower upwards. The uppermost leaves become oblanceolate or elliptic, and transition to untoothed margins.

Plants of dry woods, open woods or clearings; sandy or rocky ground, where competing vegetation is sparse. Flowers late August to late September. Native.

Similar species: Solidago bicolor is most similar to Solidago hispida, which differs primarily by having yellow florets. The latter was once considered a variety of Solidago bicolor. Sericocarpus asteroides is also similar to Solidago bicolor. Refer to the discussion on the Sericocarpus page for comparisons.