Flower profile

Bluestem goldenrod

Solidago caesia

Bluestem goldenrod (Solidago caesia) is a flowering plant in the Asteraceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly September–October across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Bluestem goldenrod is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 2 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in September–October.

31states where USDA records it

2Bloomipedia state lists include it

14,598U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Connecticut, New York

Quick look

Solidago caesia, commonly named blue-stemmed goldenrod, wreath goldenrod, or woodland goldenrod, is a flowering plant native to North America.
From Wikipedia's article Solidago caesia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Asteraceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 31 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to New York and Connecticut. ^NatureServe
In New York, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in September–October. ^iNaturalist
In Connecticut, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in September–October. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as yellow. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as late spring. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 3 ft. ^{USDA PLANTS}
iNaturalist has 2,660 research-grade sightings of it in New York, ranking #88 among the 193 flowers on our New York list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 498 research-grade sightings of it in Connecticut, ranking #98 among the 179 flowers on our Connecticut list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (2,317 records)

Bloom time in the 2 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it

State	Type	Peak bloom	Sightings*
New York	Native	September–October	2,660
Connecticut	Native	September–October	498

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: G5 Secure worldwide. ^NatureServe
New York: Not listed Not on New York protected native plants (6 NYCRR § 193.3). NatureServe: S5, secure in New York. ^{6 NYCRR § 193.3}
Connecticut: Not listed Not on Connecticut Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Plants (RCSA 26-306; 2015 list). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Connecticut. ^{CT E/T/SC list}
Rare elsewhere: Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: WI (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no edibility or poison notes on its page), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people. ^{NC State Extension}

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records bluestem goldenrod in 31 states.

AKMEVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILWIMINYRIMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTCAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin.

New York counties with USDA records: Albany, Allegany, Bronx, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chemung, Chenango, Columbia, Delaware, Dutchess, Erie, Essex, Fulton, Genesee, Greene, Jefferson, Kings, Lewis, Livingston, Madison, Monroe, Nassau, New York, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, Orange, Oswego, Otsego, Putnam, Queens, Rensselaer, Richmond, Rockland, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, St. Lawrence, Steuben, Suffolk, Tompkins, Ulster, Warren, Washington, Westchester, Wyoming.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Bluestem goldenrod a medium shade tolerance, low drought tolerance and medium moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 5.5 to 7.0 and winter lows down to -28 °F.

Shade tolerance: Medium
Drought tolerance: Low
Moisture use: Medium
Soil textures it is adapted to: medium, fine
Soil pH range: 5.5 to 7.0
Minimum temperature tolerated: -28 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum): 130
Annual precipitation range: 32 to 50 inches
Minimum root depth: 8 inches
Salinity tolerance: None
Fertility requirement: Low
Growth rate: Moderate
Lifespan: Short
Active growth period: Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed: Brown · Summer to Fall
Can be propagated by: seed, sprigs
Commercial availability: No Known Source

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for SOCA4. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Solidago axillaris.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 887 counties across 29 states; the most are in Virginia (83), Indiana (80), Kentucky (76).

Other Solidago on Bloomipedia (8): Goldenrods, Northern seaside goldenrod, Common wrinkle-leaved goldenrod, Broad-leaved goldenrod, Stiff-leaved goldenrod, Tall goldenrod, Silverrod, Giant goldenrod.

More from the Asteraceae family (212 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Common yarrow, White snakeroot, Sunflowers, Chicory, Black-eyed Susan, Bull thistle, Common dandelion, Firewheel.

More New York flowers

White snakeroot

Ageratina altissima

Native

🌼 Blooms in NY: August–October

Chicory

Cichorium intybus

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in NY: June–October

Bull thistle

Cirsium vulgare

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in NY: July–September

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile SOCA4.
iNaturalist, Solidago caesia: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Solidago caesia (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
New York: New York protected native plants (6 NYCRR § 193.3).
New York: New York prohibited and regulated invasive species (6 NYCRR Part 575).
Connecticut: Connecticut Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Plants (RCSA 26-306; 2015 list).
Connecticut: Connecticut prohibited invasive plants (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 22a-381d).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Solidago caesia (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension.
Photo: Tom Norton via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.