California Goldenrod, Solidago velutina ssp. californica

About California Goldenrod (Solidago velutina ssp. californica) 53 Nurseries Carry This Plant

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California Goldenrod is a native perennial herb that grows in northern, southern and central California. It tends to grow in open grassy places, at elevations from 0-7500 feet. It produces masses of yellow flowers when many other plants are dormant. Birds and pollinating insects love this plant. Grows well in central oak woodlands. It likes to be wet in winter/spring and dry in summer but can take extra water.

It is a spreader from a creeping rootstock and may become invasive, so plant it where it will have plenty of room. Otherwise it is very garden tolerant and easy.

Plant Description

Plant Type

Perennial herb

Size

1.5 - 5 ft tall

Form

Spreading

Growth Rate

Fast

Dormancy

Evergreen

Flower Color

Yellow

Flowering Season

Summer, Fall

Wildlife Supported

Numerous insects are attracted to the flowers
Butterfly gardens

Butterflies & moths hosted ( 40 likely * ) SHOW ALL

Northern Checkerspot Chlosyne pallaChlosyne palla

Sierra Nevada Checkerspot Chlosyne whitneyiChlosyne whitneyi

Field Crescent Phyciodes pulchellaPhyciodes pulchella

White-lined Sphinx Hyles lineataHyles lineata

Corn Earworm Moth Helicoverpa zeaHelicoverpa zea

Wavy-Lined Emerald Synchlora aerataSynchlora aerata

Common Gray Anavitrinella pampinariaAnavitrinella pampinaria

Landscaping Information

Sun

Full Sun, Part Shade

Moisture

Very Low, Low

Summer Irrigation

Max 1x / month once established, Max 2x / month once established

Nurseries

Carried by 53

Ease of Care

Very Easy

Soil Drainage

Medium

Soil Description

Tolerates a variety of soils. Soil PH: 5.5 - 7.0

Common uses

Groundcovers, Butterfly Gardens, Bee Gardens

Companion Plants

Use with complementary flower colors such as Sages (Salvia species), Wild Rose (Rosa californica), Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), and Penstemon species

Maintenance

Deadhead if you don't like the look of spent flowers, and to control spread by seeds. Dig up runners to control spread.

Sunset Zones?

1, 2, 3, 4*, 5*, 6*, 7, 8, 9, 14*, 15*, 16*, 17*, 18*, 19*, 20*, 21*, 22*, 23*

Natural Setting

Site Type

Found in a wide variety of settings and habitats throughout the state, including Chaparral, Central Oak Woodland, Coastal Sage Scrub, Fir/Pine Forest, Subalpine Forest, Foothill Woodland, open, grassy places, and disturbed sites

Climate

Annual Precipitation: 4.8" - 93.7", Summer Precipitation: 0.13" - 3.85", Coldest Month: 10.8" - 59.2", Hottest Month: 34.1" - 87.5", Humidity: 0.09" - 38.31", Elevation: -20" - 14090"

Alternative Names

Botanical Names: Solidago californica
Common Names: Oreja De Liebre

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Sources include: Wikipedia. All text shown in the "About" section of these pages is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Plant observation data provided by the participants of the California Consortia of Herbaria, Sunset information provided by Jepson Flora Project. Propogation from seed information provided by the Santa Barbara Botanical Garden from "Seed Propagation of Native California Plants" by Dara E. Emery. Sources of plant photos include CalPhotos, Wikimedia Commons, and independent plant photographers who have agreed to share their images with Calscape. Other general sources of information include Calflora, CNPS Manual of Vegetation Online, Jepson Flora Project, Las Pilitas, Theodore Payne, Tree of Life, The Xerces Society, and information provided by CNPS volunteer editors, with special thanks to Don Rideout. Climate data used in creation of plant range maps is from PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University, using 30 year (1981-2010) annual "normals" at an 800 meter spatial resolution.

Links: Jepson eFlora Taxon Page CalPhotos Wikipedia Calflora

California Goldenrod

Solidago velutina ssp. californica

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California GoldenrodSolidago velutina ssp. californica

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California Goldenrod

Solidago velutina ssp. californica