Gray Goldenrod
Solidago nemoralis
Found in woodlands, glades, barrens, roadbanks. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Florida edition What its natural habitat tells you
94
Keystone
Native to Florida. How scores work Is it native here?
Profile 100%
- Height
- 6 inches–2 feet
- Spread
- 6 inches–2 feet
- Light
- Full sun
- Soil moisture
- Dry to average
Space about 1 ft apart from its recorded spread, about 100 per 100 sq ft. Enter your bed size for a count
Will it fit your yard?
At a glance
- Life cycle
- Perennial
- Leaves
- Deciduous
- Bloom
- Summer and fall
- Fruiting season
- Summer to fall
Recorded in 5 Florida counties.
Natural habitats
Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.
1 of 2
Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground
Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.
Also found with this plant
Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in Florida. Shared habitat, not food. 79 animals.
- Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalis
- Northern FlickerColaptes auratus
- Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottos
- Orange-crowned WarblerVermivora celata
- Orchard OrioleIcterus spurius
- OspreyPandion haliaetus
- Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatus
- Pine SiskinCarduelis pinus
- Pine WarblerDendroica pinus
- Prairie WarblerDendroica discolor
- Purple FinchCarpodacus purpureus
- Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinus
- Red-cockaded WoodpeckerPicoides borealis
- Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalus
- Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensis
- Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceus
- Ruby-crowned KingletRegulus calendula
- Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubris
- Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatus
- Spotted SandpiperActitis macularius
- Swallow-tailed KiteElanoides forficatus
- Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolor
- Turkey VultureCathartes aura
- White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrys
Ecological relationships
Who uses this plant?
86CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including FL
Genus host records with ranges including FL · Solidago
- Agrotis gladiariaSwordsman Dart, Clay-Backed Cut-Worm
- Agrotis vetustaOld Man Dart
- Alsophila pometariaFall Cankerworm Moth
- Amorbia humerosanaWhite-Lined Leafroller Moth
- Anavitrinella pampinariaCommon Gray, Cranberry Spanworm
- Ancylis floridanaStrawberry Leafroller
- Archips purpuranaOmnivorous Leafroller Moth
- Argyrotaenia ivanaIvana Leafroller Moth
- Argyrotaenia velutinanaRed-Banded Leafroller Moth, Jack Pine Tube Moth
- Bucculatrix angustataNarrow Bucculatrix
Show all 86
- Chlorochlamys chloroleucariaBlackberry Looper Moth
- Chlosyne nycteisSilvery Checkerspot
- Choristoneura rosaceanaOblique-Banded Leafroller Moth, Rosaceous Leaf Roller
- Chrysodeixis includensSoybean Looper Moth
- Cisseps fulvicollisYellow-Collared Scape Moth
- Condica sutorThe Cobbler, Cobbler Groundling
- Condica vidensWhite-Dotted Groundling
- Cremastobombycia solidaginisGoldenrod Leafminer
- Ctenoplusia oxygrammaSharp-Stigma Looper Moth
- Cucullia asteroidesThe Asteroid, Asteroid Paint, Goldenrod Hooded Owlet
- Dichomeris flavocostellaCream-Edged Dichomeris
- Dichomeris inserrataIndented Dichomeris
- Dichomeris juncidellaOrange-Dotted Dichomeris
- Dichomeris ochripalpellaShining Dichomeris Moth
- Dichomeris setosellaHairy Dichomeris
- Endothenia hebesanaVerbena Bud Moth
- Epiblema otiosanaBidens Borer Moth
- Epiblema scudderianaScudder's Epiblema, Goldenrod Gall Moth
- Epiblema tripartitanaThree-Parted Epiblema
- Episimus argutanaSumac Leaftier
- Eucosma raracanaReddish Eucosma, Reddish Phaneta
- Euphydryas phaetonThe Baltimore, The Black Checker
- Eupithecia miserulataCommon Eupithacia, Common Pug
- Eusarca confusariaConfused Eusarca
- Feltia jaculiferaDingy Cutworm
- Gnorimoschema gallaesolidaginisGoldenrod Gall Moth
- Helicoverpa zeaCorn Earworm Moth
- Hellinsia kellicottiiGoldenrod Borer Plume Moth
- Herpetogramma aeglealisSerpentine Webworm
- Herpetogramma pertextalisBold-Feathered Grass Moth
- Herpetogramma thestealisZigzag Herpetogramma, Subtle-Feathered Grass Moth
- Iridopsis humariaSmall Purplish Gray
- Lacinipolia meditataThe Thinker
- Leuconycta diphteroidesGreen Leuconycta
- Lioptilodes albistriolatusMousy Plume Moth
- Orthodes cynicaCynical Quaker, Cynical Groundcat
- Orthodes majusculaRustic Quaker, Rustic Groundcat
- Ostrinia obumbratalisSmartweed Borer
- Palthis angulalisDark-Spotted Palthis
- Papaipema duovataSeaside Golden Rod Borer
- Pelochrista cataclystianaSolidaga Eucosma, Solidaga Pelochrista
- Pelochrista derelictaDerelict Eucosma
- Pelochrista dorsisignatanaTriangle-Backed Eucosma
- Pelochrista robinsonanaRobinson's Pelochrista, Robinson's Eucosma
- Platynota idaeusalisTufted Apple-Bud Moth
- Platynota stultanaOmnivorous Leafroller
- Pleuroprucha insulsariaCommon Tan Wave
- Pseudeustrotia carneolaPink-Barred Lithacodia, Pink-Barred Pseudeustrotia
- Schinia nundinaGoldenrod Flower Moth
- Sonia canadanaCanadian Sonia Moth
- Sonia constrictanaConstricted Sonia
- Sparganothis distinctaDistinct Sparganothis
- Sparganothis sulfureanaSparganothis Fruitworm Moth, Sulfur Leafroller, False Yellow-Head
- Spodoptera ornithogalliYellow-Striped Armyworm Moth, Cotton Cutworm
- Synchlora frondariaSouthern Emerald
- Tricholita signataSignate Quaker, Signate Groundcat
- Trichordestra legitimaStriped Garden Caterpillar Moth
- Udea rubigalisCelery Leaftier
- Utetheisa ornatrixOrnate Moth, Pink Underwing, Rattlebox Moth, Bella Moth
- Xanthotype urticariaFalse Crocus Geometer
- Xestia dolosaGreater Black-Letter Dart, Greater Spotted Cutworm
- Zale lunataLunate Zale
- Bucculatrix magnella
- Bucculatrix solidaginiella
- Dichomeris achne
- Dichomeris agonia
- Dichomeris euprepes
- Epiblema desertana
- Epiblema obfuscana
- Epiblema resumptana
- Gnorimoschema salinaris
- Hellinsia glenni
- Hellinsia lacteodactylus
- Helvibotys helvialis
- Pelochrista mobilensis
- Xenotemna pallorana
82BeesSoutheastern regional records
Southeastern regional records · Solidago
Individual names are not available yet.
Noori, Seltmann & Orr 2026, A curated and integrated dataset for exploring global bee-plant interactions (GloBI), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
36Specialist beesPollen specialists
Pollen specialists · Solidago
- Andrena asteris
- Andrena braccata
- Andrena canadensis
- Andrena chromotricha
- Andrena fulvipennis
- Andrena hirticincta
- Andrena nubecula
- Andrena placata
- Andrena simplex
- Calliopsis coloradensis
Show all 36
- Colletes americanus
- Colletes compactus
- Colletes rufocinctus
- Colletes simulans
- Colletes solidaginis
- Colletes speculiferus
- Colletes thysanellae
- Dianthidium simile
- Megachile inimica
- Megachile xylocopoides
- Melissodes coreopsis
- Melissodes dentiventris
- Melissodes druriellus
- Melissodes fumosus
- Melissodes illatus
- Melissodes niveus
- Melissodes trinodis
- Perdita boltoniae
- Perdita bruneri
- Perdita laticincta
- Perdita octomaculata
- Perdita swenki
- Protandrena aestivalis
- Protandrena andrenoides
- Protandrena citripes
- Protandrena compositarum
2BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim
Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Solidago
- Centrocercus urophasianusGreater Sage-Grouse
- Meleagris gallopavoWild Turkey
Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening
Beetles 3
- Coccinella 9-notata
- Diabrotica longicornis
- Epicauta pennsylvanica
Flower visits · Carlinville, Illinois, USA
Flies 16
- Archytas aterrima
- Chlorops proxima
- Gymnosoma fuliginosa
- Lucilia sericata
- Musca domestica
- Sarcophaga hunteri
- Scepsis fulvicollis
- Sphaerophoria cylindrica
- Spilomyia longicornis
- Stomoxys calcitrans
Show all 16
- Syrphus americanus
- Syrphus arcuatus
- Systropus macer
- Trypeta humilis
- Trypeta solaris
- Xanthomelana arcuata
Flower visits · Carlinville, Illinois, USA
Adult butterflies / moths 3
- Anosia plexippus
- Eurema lisa
- Heliothis armiger
Flower visits · Carlinville, Illinois, USA
Other wasps 18
- Ancistrocerus catskillensis
- Ancistrocerus tigris
- Anoplius illinoensis
- Cerceris clypeata
- Cerceris kennicottii
- Ceropales fraterna
- Ceropales fulvipes
- Chelonus sericeus
- Mimesa cressonii
- Philanthus punctatus
Show all 18
- Planiceps niger
- Polistes annularis
- Polistes pallipes
- Polistes rubiginosus
- Polistes variatus
- Pompiloides marginatus
- Sphex procera
- Sphex vulgaris
Flower visits · Carlinville, Illinois, USA
Other insects 3
- Alydus pilosulus
- Lygaeus turcicus
- Lygus pratensis
Flower visits · Carlinville, Illinois, USA
No records yet · Ants
Growing and identification
Plant details
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Hardiness
- Zones 3a–9b
- Soil pH
- Acidic
- Flower color
- Yellow
- Growth rate
- Rapid
- Growth habit
- Spreads by rhizomes
- Foliage color
- Green
- Fruit begins
- Summer
- Fruit ends
- Fall
Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.
Growing sources and scope
- Bloom · “Summer and fall” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition, USDA PLANTS, Prairie Moon 2026 Cultural Guide differ)
- Flower color · “Yellow” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Foliage color · “Green” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Fruit begins · “Summer” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Fruit ends · “Fall” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Growth habit · “Spreads by rhizomes” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Growth rate · “Rapid” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Hardiness · “Zones 3a–9b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder differs)
- Height · “6 inches–2 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Tennessee Smart Yards, USDA PLANTS, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Prairie Moon 2026 Cultural Guide differ)
- Leaves · “Deciduous” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Life cycle · “Perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Light · “Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Tennessee Smart Yards, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder, Prairie Moon 2026 Cultural Guide differ)
- primary_flower_color · “yellow” · USDA PLANTS
- Soil · “Good drainage; Occasionally dry” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Tennessee Smart Yards, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder, Prairie Moon 2026 Cultural Guide differ)
- Soil pH · “Acidic” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Spread · “6 inches–2 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Also known as
Old Field Goldenrod
Conservation status
| Florida rank | SNR |
|---|---|
| Global rank | G5 |
| FL status | Not verified |
| Federal status | Not verified |
In your garden
Will it fit your yard?
Check this plant against your county, sun and soil moisture. Conditions are checked in your browser.
Choose a county to begin.
Growing cautions
- Self-seeds freely. Prolific re-seeder and also spreads by rhizomes. Tennessee Smart Yards
For planning only; these do not change the score or Fit.
Sources
- Atlas of Florida Plants
- USDA PLANTS
- Vascular Plants of North Carolina (NC Natural Heritage Program)
- Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Florida edition
- Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
- Noori, Seltmann & Orr 2026, A curated and integrated dataset for exploring global bee-plant interactions (GloBI), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
- Smith, Bachelder, Russell, Morales, Mosher & Seltmann 2024, Bee-Specialization-Modeling v0.6.1 (specialist host table compiled from J. Fowler's pollen specialist bee lists), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
- Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)
- Narango, Tallamy & Shropshire 2020, Few keystone plant genera support the majority of Lepidoptera species, Nature Communications