Solidago canadensis L., Asteraceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Common name(s): [more details]

English: Canada goldenrod, Canadian goldenrod, common goldenrod

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Stems 6-20 dm long, densely spreading puberulent, especially above.  Leaves numerous and crowded, linear-lanceolate to lanceolate-elliptic, lower ones 5-15 cm long, 0.7-2.2 cm wide, 3-nerved, densely spreading puberulent, upper surface sometimes subglabrous.  Heads in open paniculate inflorescences, with numerous divaricate, recurved, 1-sided branches; involucre (2-) 2.5-4.5 mm high; ray florets (8-) 10-17 per head, rays 2-3 mm long; disk florets 2-8 per head.  Achenes puberulent"  (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 357).

Habitat/ecology:  "Grassland, forest edges, riparian habitats, disturbed sites.  This plant belongs to a highly variable species complex.  It forms extensive colonies with a high shoot density and covering large areas, eliminating almost all other species.  Individual clones expend rapidly by vegetative lateral growth.  The annual stems die in autumn and new shoots arise from the rhizomes in spring.  Once established, the plant remains dominant for a long period of time"  (Weber, 2003; p. 411).

Propagation:  Seed.  Also spreads vegetatively by means of rhizomes.  "Seeds are abundantly produced and dispersed by wind"  (Weber, 2003; p. 411).

Native range:  North America (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 357).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Cook Islands Cook Islands	Cook Islands	introduced cultivated	McCormack, Gerald (2013)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 357)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 357)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 357)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 357)
Japan (offshore islands) Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands	Bonin (Ogasawara) Islands	introduced	Kato, Hidetoshi (2007) As Solidago altissima L. [Solidago canadensis L. subsp. altissima (L.) O.Bolos et Vigo, Solidago canadensis L. var. scabra Torr. & A. Gray]
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 38) Vouchers cited: MacKee 12416, MacKee 25399, MacKee 45668

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	Australia (continental)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland	introduced invasive	Queensland Herbarium (2002) (p. 7) var. scabra
British Columbia (province of Canada) Province of British Columbia	Canada (British Columbia)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Japan Japan	Japan		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 343)
Japan Japan	Japan	introduced	Mito, Toshikazu/Uesugi, Tetsuro (2004) (p. 190) var. canadensis and var. gilbocanescens Rydb.
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Baja Norte
New Zealand New Zealand	New Zealand (country)	introduced invasive	Webb, C. J./Sykes, W. R./Garnock-Jones, P. J. (1988) (p. 195) "Waste places, especially roadsides".
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (Oregon)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (California)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (Washington)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

Control: 

Physical:  "Repeated mowing or mulching and reseeding of native species.  Single clumps may be grubbed, rhizomes must be removed".

Chemical:  "Effective herbicides are 2,4-D or picloram"  (Weber, 2003; p. 411).