Solidago Flowers
Yellow And Green Solidago Flowers
Name : Solidago Flowers
Latin Name : Genus: Solidago, (Solidago odora)
Solidago Description
Solidago is a genus comprising of about a 100 perennial species of flowering plants in the Aster Family Asteraceae. Commonly popular as Goldenrods, Solidago varieties are mostly found in the meadows and pastures, along roads, ditches and waste areas in North America while a few species come from Mexico, South America, and Eurasia. Some of the American Solidago varieties were introduced into Europe some 250 years ago. Solidago derives its name from two Latin words ‘solido’, which means "to strengthen or make whole," and ‘ago’, meaninSolidago Flowers - Yellow And Green Solidago Flowersg "to make." This is actually a reference to the flower’s medicinal value.
The Goldenrod or Solidago plants are characterized by tiny yellow or whitish-yellow flowers growing on panicled or racemed plumes. Goldenrods display an eye-catching, golden inflorescence with hundreds of small capitula (dense, flat cluster of small flowers or florets), although some varieties are spike-like and others have auxiliary racemes. Goldenrods have slender, usually hairless stems, except for the variety S. canadensis, which has a hairy upper stem. Solidago varieties can grow to a length between 60 cm and 1.5 m.
Goldenrods bloom in late summer and early fall, filling the garden with bright yellow spray of colour. Their delicate blossoms come in abundance and Solidago also have a tendency to form patches that are actually vegetative clones of a single plant.
Goldenrods are fairly drought tolerant and perform well even in drier conditions and poor soil, making them suitable for container plantings. Solidago thrives in partial shade to full sun in a light, well-drained soil. Goldenrods propagate by wind-dispersed seeds or by underground rhizomes.
Goldenrod is an ideal plant for the butterfly garden since these golden blossoms are highly attractive to butterflies. Solidago or Goldenrod works well in native wildflower gardens as well as containers and pots. Goldenrod gained favour of the British gardeners long before the Americans adopted it in formal gardens during the 1980s.
The bright yellow flower spikes of Solidago make great cut flowers, and also dry well when hung upside down. Expected vase life for this fresh, delicate blossom is an average minimum of 12 days. Goldenrods are ideal for fresh as well as dried flower arrangements and are available all year round. Solidago Aster flowers are trendy filler for a bouquet or centerpiece of almost any theme. This full and vibrant filler beautifully enhances any table centerpiece, wedding bouquet or flower arrangement.
Popular varieties of Goldenrods include Solidago odora or Sweet Goldenrod, a fragrant cultivar with anise-scented leaves and is used historically as an herbal tea; Solidago canadensis or Canada Goldenrod, which is a compact native plant that is a primary food source for Monarch butterflies; and Solidago speciosa or Showy Goldenrod, which has more flowers than many of the other goldenrods.
Solidago Meaning
In some cultures Goldenrods are considered to be a sign of Good Luck or Good Fortune and in the language of flowers, the elegant Solidago symbolizes Success.
The Solidago or Goldenrod is the state flower of the U.S. states of Kentucky (adopted March 16th, 1926) and Nebraska (adopted April 4th, 1895). It used to be the state flower of Alabama (adopted September 6th, 1927), but was later rejected in favour of the camellia. Goldenrod is also the state wildflower for South Carolina.
Solidago Mythology
Famous inventor Thomas Edison experimented with goldenrod to produce rubber, which it contains naturally and found out that Goldenrod fibres have 12% rubber in them. The tires on the Model T given to him by his friend Henry Ford were made from goldenrod rubber though after his death no further work was done in this regard.
A few varieties of Goldenrods are edible when cooked and are used for making tea.
Goldenrod was traditionally cultivated in the Arab world where it was used in their medicinal system. In the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries Goldenrod was used by Europeans to heal wounds.
The variety Solidago virgaurea is used in a traditional kidney tonic prepared by herbalists as an agent to treat renal inflammation and irritation when bacterial infection or stones are present. Other medicinal uses include a tea made from the leaves and flowers of Solidago, which helps in healing sore throat, snake bite, fever, kidney and bladder problems, cramps, colic, colds, diarrhea, measles, cough, and asthma. A poultice made with Goldenrods heals boils, burns, headache, toothache, wounds, and sores.
According to a Cherokee Indian legend, two warring tribes were fighting over a choice hunting ground. They waged war over a hill, down a valley, across a creek, and into a small village. All the villagers were killed in the battle except for two sisters who wore doeskin dresses, one dyed lavender-blue with fringe, the other one bright yellow. Afraid and helpless, they ran for their lives and hid in the woods. The two sisters sought help from the Herb Woman who lived over the mountain in another valley. This old woman gathered herbs by day and brewed spells and magic potions by night, a gift given to her by the gods. Night soon fell and as the sisters slept under the stars, the Herb Woman looked into the future and saw that these little girls would eventually be hunted down by the enemy. In order to save them, she sprinkled a magic brew over them and covered them with leaves.
When the sun came up there were two flowers where the sisters had been sleeping: One was the lavender-blue aster, while the other flower was the yellow goldenrod.
