Solidago velutina
Velvety goldenrod, Velvety Goldenrod
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Solidago velutina (Velvety goldenrod) is a native California subshrub in the Asteraceae family.
Velvety goldenrod is a California native perennial found in montane and foothill regions in rocky chaparral and conifer forest habitats. Flowering from July to September, this plant produces bright yellow flowers in pyramid-shaped clusters with 6 to 11 ray flowers 3 to 6 millimeters long. Growing 20 to 150 centimeters tall with short rhizomes, it forms erect stems covered in soft, short hairs. Its leaves are distinctively shaped, with lower leaves up to 14 centimeters long, oblanceolate to obovate, and having serrated edges that taper toward the base. The plant's delicate flower heads feature graduated phyllaries that are lanceolate and acute, creating a distinctive wand-like inflorescence.
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 velutina native to California?
Yes. Solidago velutina is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Solidago velutina belong to?
Solidago velutina is in the Asteraceae family, genus Solidago.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Solidago velutina subsp. californica — California goldenrod
- Solidago velutina subsp. sparsiflora
- Solidago altissima subsp. altissima — Late goldenrod
- Solidago confinis — Southern goldenrod
- Solidago elongata — West coast canada goldenrod
- Solidago guiradonis — Guirado's goldenrod
- Soliva sessilis — Common soliva
- Soliva sp.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.