Canada goldenrod
Discuss this plant with the guide — choose this profile as a possible match and prepare your observations for Colorado Plants & Practical Care.
Solidago canadensis
Colorado native. N-solidago-canadensis
Spreads by roots and seed. Native status, garden use and noxious-weed class are separate from toxicity. Exposure help.
Identification caveat: Goldenrod taxonomy is variable. Other Solidago species and plants sharing this common name require separate identification.
Still researching this plant
This is a sourced working profile. Evidence is incomplete for People, Dogs & cats, Other animals. Identification and source-photo limits are explained below. Independent botanical and veterinary review is pending. Uncertainty is not a finding that the plant is safe.
Three views of this plant
Photos are source-identified examples, not a complete identification key. Check leaves, stems, flowers and fruit together. Locations are not assumed to be in Colorado.
Étienne Lacroix-Carignan · CC0 1.0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
The photo belongs to an iNaturalist research-grade observation identified as the named taxon; source taxon, quality grade, and identifications are retained. Visible morphology was checked for consistency, not treated as an independent botanical determination. Identification follows the research-grade source; these photographs alone do not reliably exclude all similar Solidago taxa.
No edits to the downloaded image. Wikimedia may have supplied a scaled thumbnail; original and download URLs are recorded separately. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.
Étienne Lacroix-Carignan · CC0 1.0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
The photo belongs to an iNaturalist research-grade observation identified as the named taxon; source taxon, quality grade, and identifications are retained. Visible morphology was checked for consistency, not treated as an independent botanical determination. Identification follows the research-grade source; these photographs alone do not reliably exclude all similar Solidago taxa.
No edits to the downloaded image. Wikimedia may have supplied a scaled thumbnail; original and download URLs are recorded separately. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.
Étienne Lacroix-Carignan · CC0 1.0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
The photo belongs to an iNaturalist research-grade observation identified as the named taxon; source taxon, quality grade, and identifications are retained. Visible morphology was checked for consistency, not treated as an independent botanical determination. Identification follows the research-grade source; these photographs alone do not reliably exclude all similar Solidago taxa.
No edits to the downloaded image. Wikimedia may have supplied a scaled thumbnail; original and download URLs are recorded separately. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.
Recognize
Late-season, branching sprays of small yellow flowerheads on an upright perennial. N-solidago-canadensis
Plants & habitat
Spreads by seed and rhizomes; useful in meadow plantings but may need boundaries in small beds. Flowers attract pollinators and seeds feed birds. N-solidago-canadensis
People
Goldenrod is different from wind-pollinated ragweed. That distinction does not guarantee freedom from individual sensitivities or ingestion risk. N-solidago-canadensis
Dogs & cats
Species-specific ingestion effects and exposure thresholds were not established in the reviewed sources. This is an evidence gap, not proof of safety.
Other animals
Species-specific livestock ingestion safety was not established in this review. This is an evidence gap, not proof of safety.
Before taking action
Confirm the scientific name before removing a plant, changing animal access, or choosing treatment. An evidence gap means this review has not resolved the question. It does not mean safe. For listed weeds, consult your county weed program about the requirements for your location; follow the current label for any pesticide. S27
References
- N-solidago-canadensis — Solidago canadensis — Plant Toolbox, NC State Extension. Accessed 2026-09-07T00:23:58+00:00. Locator: Description, Attributes, Poisonous to Humans, Problems.