Solidago elongata
West coast canada goldenrod
(c) Cricket Raspet, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Solidago elongata (West coast canada goldenrod) is a native California perennial in the Asteraceae family, recognized by rhizomatous habit, toothed 3-veined leaves, mid-cauline leaves largest.
West coast canada goldenrod is a native perennial found in northwestern California, the Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, central western California, and Great Basin regions in meadows and thickets at elevations below 2,800 meters. Flowering from May to October, this plant produces yellow flowers in small clustered heads with 8 to 15 ray flowers. Growing with tall stems 25 to 170 centimeters high and spreading rhizomatous roots, it has an upright, somewhat club-shaped flowering structure. Its mid-stem leaves are distinctively lanceolate, 5 to 15 centimeters long, with three prominent veins and slightly toothed edges. The plant's fruit is small, approximately 1 to 1.5 millimeters long and covered in fine stiff hairs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species; key features are rhizomatous habit, toothed 3-veined leaves, mid-cauline leaves largest
Habitat and range
Habitat: Meadows, thickets
Elevation: < 2800 m
Outside California: to southern British Columbia
Bloom period
Solidago elongata blooms May-Oct.
How to tell it apart
vs Euthamia: Solidago flowers cluster one-sided on branches; Euthamia flowers form flat-topped clusters.; vs Isocoma: Solidago has small yellow ray petals; Isocoma completely lacks ray petals (disk flowers only).; vs Senecio: Solidago heads in one-sided clusters; Senecio heads in flat or rounded clusters, never one-sided.; vs Eriophyllum: Solidago foliage is green and smooth; Eriophyllum foliage is densely white-woolly.; vs Artemisia: Solidago has showy yellow ray petals; Artemisia has tiny inconspicuous rayless heads.
Frequently asked questions
Is Solidago elongata native to California?
Yes. Solidago elongata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Solidago elongata bloom?
Solidago elongata blooms May-Oct.
What plant family does Solidago elongata belong to?
Solidago elongata is in the Asteraceae family, genus Solidago.
What habitat does Solidago elongata grow in?
Solidago elongata grows in Meadows, thickets.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.