The goldenrod wildflower is good for you, and it blooms in large numbers across most of North America in late summer and early fall. This plant’s bright golden-yellow flowers add a splash of color to roadsides, fields, and meadows in the fall. But goldenrod is useful for more than just its pretty looks. It has been used for a long time in herbal medicine for health and healing. You can use this common fall wildflower to make your own teas, tinctures, salves, and more if you know how to properly identify, harvest, and store goldenrod.
Identifying Goldenrod for Harvesting
There are over 100 species of goldenrod, but some of the most common include Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) and blue-stemmed goldenrod (Solidago caesia). These herbaceous perennials can grow anywhere from 2 to 7 feet tall depending on conditions. They produce dense branched clusters of bright golden-yellow flowers atop thin, elongated stems. The leaves are lance-shaped with toothed edges.
Goldenrod grows in a variety of habitats from fields, meadows, thickets, and open woods to roadsides, disturbed soils, and drainage ditches. It thrives in partial sunlight and spreads readily via underground rhizomes This plant is found across most of North America except for the far northern areas.
Properly identifying goldenrod is important before harvesting it for herbal use Some plants like ragweed can cause allergic reactions, so you want to make sure you avoid those and identify the correct goldenrod species. If unsure, consult a wildflower field guide or forage with an experienced herbalist who can help you positively identify goldenrod.
When to Harvest Goldenrod
Timing your harvest is crucial to get goldenrod at its peak for herbal remedies. Here are tips on when to harvest different parts of this plant:
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Leaves – Harvest leaves before flowers appear in early-mid summer. If the leaves aren’t healthy and bright, stay away from them.
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Flowers – Harvest goldenrod flowers when in full bloom in late summer into fall. Pick clusters when tiny individual blooms are open and bright yellow.
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Stems – Cut stems along with flowers during flowering season. Select long, straight, healthy stems.
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Roots – Dig roots after foliage dies back in late fall/early winter once ground freezes.
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Seeds – Collect seed heads after blooms fade and go to seed in mid-late fall.
It is best to harvest in the morning, after any dew has dried but before it gets too hot in the middle of the day. Also choose locations away from roadsides or polluted areas.
How to Harvest Goldenrod
Follow these steps for properly harvesting goldenrod:
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Seek permission if foraging on private property. Only harvest where permitted.
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Use scissors or pruners to selectively cut branches with an abundance of leaves, flowers, or straight stems.
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Carefully dig out plants with a shovel or digging fork when taking roots. Replace any disturbed soil.
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Avoid overharvesting – take no more than 20% of each plant. Leave some flowers/seeds for bees and wildlife.
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Place plant material in paper or cloth bags (not plastic) and keep out of direct sun.
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Label your harvest bags with details like plant name and location. Record the harvest date.
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Clean materials thoroughly at home removing any damaged portions.
Sustainable harvesting is key when wildcrafting goldenrod. Never decimate local populations by taking too much.
Drying and Preserving Goldenrod
Proper drying helps preserve goldenrod’s medicinal potency and shelf life. Here are effective drying methods:
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Leaves – Dry loose leaves on screens or in paper bags in a warm, well-ventilated area out of direct sun. They are fully dry when crumbly.
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Flowers – Hang flower clusters or lay singly on screens. Keep out of sunlight to preserve color. Well-dried flowers retain bright yellow hues.
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Roots – Slice roots and dry on screens or in a dehydrator until brittle. Roots are very hardy, so drying thoroughly is key.
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Seeds – Dry seed heads on screens until seeds shake loose for storage.
Monitor drying materials closely to prevent mold growth. Discard any moldy portions. Store fully dry goldenrod in airtight glass jars away from light.
Using Your Harvested Goldenrod
Once thoroughly dried, goldenrod can be used to create:
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Teas – Infuse dried leaves/flowers for anti-inflammatory and diuretic teas. Add honey to improve flavor.
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Tinctures – Macerate fresh flowers in vodka for several weeks, then strain to make a medicinal extract.
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Salves – Infuse dried flowers in carrier oils, then add beeswax to create healing topical salves.
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Syrups – Make herbal cough/cold syrup using fresh or dried goldenrod flowers.
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Culinary – Use fresh/dried flowers to add flavor, color, and nutrition to foods.
With proper identification, ethical harvesting, and drying techniques, the golden blooms of this abundant wildflower can provide medicinal remedies, culinary enhancement, and natural inspiration during the autumn months.
Key Tips for Harvesting Goldenrod
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Correctly identify goldenrod species before harvesting – consult field guides or forage with an expert.
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Time your harvest when the plant part needed is at its peak – flowers blooming, leaves vibrant, roots ready.
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Employ sustainable harvesting practices – never take too much, leave some behind to propagate.
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Dry thoroughly on screens or in paper bags out of sunlight to retain potency and color.
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Craft teas, tinctures, salves, syrups, and more with your harvest of this beautiful fall wildflower.
Learning how to respectfully forage and preserve goldenrod allows you to tap into this plant’s herbal potential and natural seasonal bounty. With its bright golden blooms and wellness benefits, goldenrod is a wonderful medicinal and edible wildflower to get to know.
Goldenrod: A Bountiful Fall Herb
The Solidago genus of plants are in the Aster family (Asteraceae) and have between forty and sixty different species in North America. Even though ragweed is really to blame for hay fever, goldenrod is often blamed for it. Ragweed’s flowers are more subtle, so goldenrod’s flowers stand out more, drawing attention (and blame) to itself. However, goldenrod’s pollen does not travel through the air. Instead, goldenrod is pollinated by bees and other insects.
Goldenrod has many uses, both health-wise and culinary. You can read more about the health benefits of goldenrod here.
Goldenrod is easy to find in the cool fall months, so it can be a great herb to gather and use in herbal remedies. Here are three tips to keep in mind when you are foraging goldenrod this year.
Timing Is Everything
Harvesting any herb requires your full attention to the stages it goes through in order to harvest the plant for optimal benefits, and goldenrod is no exception.
Goldenrod Leaves
When I’m foraging goldenrod, I prefer to harvest the leaves just before the flowers open or when some are open and others are just opening. Goldenrod is prone to powdery mildew and rust, so choose your leaves with care to avoid infected leaves. In fact, it is best to keep an eye on the overall condition of the plant when foraging goldenrod, harvesting from healthy, robust plants.
Goldenrod Flowers
Be aware that drying goldenrod flowers (when in full bloom) often leads to the flowers turning to fluff so I like to use the flowers fresh.
Goldenrod Seeds
Some people will wait until the goldenrod goes to seed before foraging and drying the seeds.
Goldenrod Roots
Harvest the roots in the fall after the first heavy frost. Wash them well, cut them up into small, thin pieces, and dehydrate them thoroughly.
Time of Day for Foraging Goldenrod
I typically forage after the dew has dried and before the sun is at its hottest. That is around 11:00 AM this time of year where I live.
I try to get my harvest processed immediately. If drying, I put them in the food dehydrator. Air drying in the fall can be tricky due to dampness and lack of warm temperatures. If the temperature is high, I like to place my foraged material in brown paper bags (mark them so you don’t forget what they are) and put them in the backseat of my car. Then, I’ll park in the sun with the windows open so air can circulate. This is ideal in the summer, but if you want to do this during the fall months, you have to be careful to pick the best day for it.
3 Ways to use Goldenrod | How to Harvest & Make Goldenrod Tea, Infused vinegar & Infused Oil
FAQ
How to pick a golden rod?
Harvest goldenrod when the flowers are bright yellow. If you wait too long, they start to look dull, then dry into little puffs of seeds. They can still be used at that point but the color will be less vibrant.
What part of the goldenrod do you use?
It has uses in both traditional Chinese medicine and herbal medicine in some European countries ( 1 ). To reap its benefits, people consume the parts of the plant that grow above ground — particularly the flowers and leaves ( 2 ). You can buy goldenrod as a tea or dietary supplement as well.
How do you prepare goldenrod for medicinal use?
InstructionsWeigh out 1 ounce of dried goldenrod and 5 fl oz vodka. In a clean glass mason jar, add measured dried herb. Cap the jar tightly, label, and place in a dark cabinet or pantry for 4 to 6 weeks. Once the tincture is ready, pour out the vodka through a muslin cloth and strainer.
How do you harvest goldenrod?
To harvest goldenrod, cut the flowering tops of the plant to dry. This includes the top part with most of the flowers, along with leaves and stems. The best time to harvest is on a dry day or when rain and dew aren’t on the plant, preferably in a dry sunny mid-morning.
What tool should you use to harvest goldenrod?
Harvest goldenrod flowers on a dry day or when rain and dew aren’t on the plant. A dry sunny mid-morning is a perfect time, but work with the weather you have. Bring a pair of scissors or plant snips with you – goldenrod stems are tough to break with just your hands.
Can goldenrod be harvested sustainably?
But this plant has uses beyond just its ornamental beauty. An old herbal medicine called goldenrod has been used for a long time. Many herbalists collect this plant to make teas, tinctures, salves, and other things. In this article, we will explore tips and best practices for sustainably harvesting goldenrod.
When is the best time to harvest goldenrod?
A dry sunny mid-morning is a perfect time to harvest goldenrod flowers, but work with the weather you have. Goldenrod’s flowering tops should be cut off and left to dry. This is the part of the plant that has the most flowers.
How do you preserve goldenrod?
Sustainable harvesting is key when wildcrafting goldenrod. Never harvest endangered populations, and only take what you need from healthy, abundant plants. Taking too much can threaten the survival of local populations. Proper drying is crucial for preserving goldenrod’s medicinal properties. Here are some tips:
How do you propagate goldenrod?
Optimal Growing Conditions for Goldenrod: Goldenrod can propagate through seeds or by dividing the plant. When propagating through seeds, one should plant them in late fall or early spring. Division, best done in the spring or fall, is a practical method for controlling growth and managing the spread of goldenrod varieties.