Solidago virgaurea - Goldenrod - (Asteraceae)

Goldenrod is common and widespread throughout the UK and Ireland, particularly in the western parts.

This late-flowering member of the daisy family is very common in upland regions, especially in rocky grassland areas and on clifftops. Goldenrod flowers from July until September with flowers varying between 10 mm and 25 mm across. In the past, this plant was used to treat wounds, and apparently fell from favour not because it was no long considered efficacious in this respect but because it was discovered to be more common than previously thought - a case of familiarity breeding contempt!

Goldenrod

We found this mid-summer specimen in the Teifi Valley near Llandysul in Wales.