Flower profile
Giant goldenrod
Solidago gigantea
Giant goldenrod (Solidago gigantea) is a flowering plant in the Asteraceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly July–September across the U.S.
Giant goldenrod is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Nebraska
Quick look
Solidago gigantea is a North American plant species in the family Asteraceae. Its common names include tall goldenrod and giant goldenrod, among others.
- 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 47 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to Nebraska. NatureServe
- USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as yellow. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as indeterminate. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 8.2 ft. USDA PLANTS
- iNaturalist has 42 research-grade sightings of it in Nebraska, ranking #105 among the 147 flowers on our Nebraska list. iNaturalist
When does it bloom?
There are only a handful of Nebraska flowering records, so this chart uses records from across the U.S.
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
- Nebraska
- Not listed Not on Nebraska threatened and endangered species (163 Neb. Admin. Code ch. 4, § 004). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Nebraska. 163 NAC 4-004
- Rare elsewhere
- Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: UT (S1). (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?
None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.
It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.
🌿 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 giant goldenrod in 47 states plus Washington, D.C.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming; District of Columbia.
Nebraska counties with USDA records: Adams, Banner, Buffalo, Cass, Cedar, Cherry, Cheyenne, Cuming, Custer, Dawes, Dawson, Dodge, Douglas, Gage, Greeley, Hall, Hamilton, Harlan, Hayes, Hitchcock, Holt, Hooker, Howard, Kearney, Lancaster, Lincoln, Morrill, Nance, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee, Red Willow, Richardson, Saline, Sarpy, Saunders, Scotts Bluff, Seward, Sherman, Sioux, Thayer, Thomas, Valley, Webster.
Growing conditions
USDA PLANTS gives Giant goldenrod a medium shade tolerance, medium drought tolerance and medium moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 4.0 to 8.0 and winter lows down to -33 °F.
- Shade tolerance
- Medium
- Drought tolerance
- Medium
- Moisture use
- Medium
- Soil textures it is adapted to
- medium, fine
- Soil pH range
- 4.0 to 8.0
- Minimum temperature tolerated
- -33 °F
- Frost-free days needed (minimum)
- 110
- Annual precipitation range
- 14 to 50 inches
- Minimum root depth
- 16 inches
- Salinity tolerance
- None
- Fertility requirement
- Medium
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Lifespan
- Moderate
- Active growth period
- Summer
- Fruit or seed
- Brown · Summer to Fall
- Can be propagated by
- seed
- Commercial availability
- Routinely Available
From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for SOGI. 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 ×leiophallax, Solidago pitcheri, Solidago serotinoides.
County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 1563 counties across 46 states; the most are in Illinois (92), Kansas (91), Missouri (87).
Other Solidago on Bloomipedia (8): Goldenrods, Bluestem goldenrod, Northern seaside goldenrod, Common wrinkle-leaved goldenrod, Broad-leaved goldenrod, Stiff-leaved goldenrod, Tall goldenrod, Silverrod.
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 Nebraska flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile SOGI.
- iNaturalist, Solidago gigantea: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Solidago gigantea (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- 1895 Neb. Laws ch. 120 (House Roll 366): Nebraska state flower.
- Nebraska: Nebraska threatened and endangered species (163 Neb. Admin. Code ch. 4, § 004).
- Nebraska: Nebraska noxious weeds (25 Neb. Admin. Code ch. 10, § 001.02).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Solidago gigantea (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
- Photo: John Dziak via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized.