Bloomipedia
Northern seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens)
Photo: Duarte Frade via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Northern seaside goldenrod

Solidago sempervirens

Northern seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) is a flowering plant in the Asteraceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly August–October across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Northern seaside goldenrod is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 6 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in August–October.

23states where USDA records it
6Bloomipedia state lists include it
10,666U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island

Quick look

Solidago sempervirens, the seaside goldenrod or salt-marsh goldenrod, is a plant species in the genus Solidago of the family Asteraceae. It is native to eastern North America and parts of the Caribbean. It is an introduced species in the Great Lakes region. Similar plants found in the Azores are thought have evolved from a natural introduction of this species.

  • 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 23 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maine, Rhode Island and Delaware. NatureServe
  • In New York, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in September–November. iNaturalist
  • In Massachusetts, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in September–November. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as yellow. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as late summer. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 3.5 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 3,783 research-grade sightings of it in New York, ranking #59 among the 193 flowers on our New York list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,971 research-grade sightings of it in Massachusetts, ranking #78 among the 188 flowers on our Massachusetts list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,808 research-grade sightings of it in New Jersey, ranking #52 among the 186 flowers on our New Jersey list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (1,188 records)
Bloom time in the 6 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
New YorkNativeSeptember–November3,783
MassachusettsNativeSeptember–November1,971
New JerseyNativeSeptember–October1,808
MaineNativeAugust–September1,360
Rhode IslandNativefew records (34)342
DelawareNativefew records (32)168

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
State rare plant lists
Not listed Not on the official rare plant list in 5 of our 6 states.
See each state
Massachusetts
Not listed Not on Massachusetts Endangered Species Act list (321 CMR 10.90). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Massachusetts. MESA list
New Jersey
Not listed Not on New Jersey Endangered Plant Species List (N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in New Jersey. N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1
Maine
Not listed Not on Maine Rare Plant List (Maine Natural Areas Program, 2021). E and T are Maine's official endangered and threatened plants (12 M.R.S.); SC and PE are tracking categories. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Maine. Maine rare plant list
Rhode Island
Not listed Not on Rhode Island Rare Plants 2016 (RI Natural History Survey, from the RI Wildlife Action Plan; informational, Rhode Island has no state plant-protection listing law). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Rhode Island. RI rare plants 2016
Delaware
Not listed Not on Rare and Uncommon Plants of Delaware (DNREC, 2024; informational, Delaware has no state plant-protection list). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Delaware. DE rare plants 2024
New York
Variety listed Only Solidago sempervirens var. mexicana is on New York protected native plants (6 NYCRR § 193.3) (state endangered). NatureServe: S5, secure in New York. 6 NYCRR § 193.3
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

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

Please leave it where it grows

Please don't pick or dig this flower: Solidago sempervirens var. mexicana is on New York's rare plant list (state endangered). 6 NYCRR § 193.3

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 Northern seaside goldenrod in 23 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia.

New York counties with USDA records: Bronx, Dutchess, Erie, Kings, Nassau, New York, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, Westchester.

Massachusetts counties with USDA records: Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, Essex, Hampden, Middlesex, Nantucket, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, Worcester.

New Jersey counties with USDA records: Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Somerset, Union.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Northern seaside goldenrod a high shade tolerance, medium drought tolerance and low moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 5.5 to 7.5 and winter lows down to -13 °F.

Shade tolerance
High
Drought tolerance
Medium
Moisture use
Low
Soil textures it is adapted to
coarse, medium
Soil pH range
5.5 to 7.5
Minimum temperature tolerated
-13 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
180
Annual precipitation range
35 to 60 inches
Minimum root depth
14 inches
Salinity tolerance
High
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
bare root, container, seed, sprigs
Commercial availability
Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for SOSE. 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; Puerto Rico: Introduced.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 225 counties across 20 states; the most are in Florida (36), Virginia (25), Louisiana (23).

Other Solidago on Bloomipedia (8): Goldenrods, Bluestem 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)

White snakeroot

Ageratina altissima

Native

🌼 Blooms in NY: August–October
Chicory (Cichorium intybus)

Chicory

Cichorium intybus

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in NY: June–October
Bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare)

Bull thistle

Cirsium vulgare

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in NY: July–September

Sources