Solidago (canadensis)

Martin van der Grinten USDA NRCS - Big Flats Plant Materials Center RD #1, Route 352, Box 360A Corning, New York 14830-0360 (607) 562-8404 (607) 562-8516 (fax) martin.vandergrinten@ny.usda.gov http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/nypmc

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Family Scientific Name:	Asteraceae
Family Common Name:	Composite Family
Scientific Name:	Solidago canadensis L.
Common Name:	Canada goldenrod
Species Code:	SOCA6
Ecotype:	Mt. Desert Island, Maine
General Distribution:	Canada goldenrod is found throughout the United States.
Propagation Goal:	plants
Propagation Method:	seed
ProductType:	Container (plug)
Time To Grow:	0
Target Specifications:	Stock Type: Plant plugs, 1" x 1" x 4" cell size. Height: Approximately 4 inches. Herbaceous perennial. Root System: Firm root plug for a greenhouse crop plant.
Propagule Collection:	Collected in Acadia National Park, Maine by Martin van der Grinten in October and hand harvested when seeds develop a grayish cast.
Propagule Processing:	Seed Processing: Allow all the seed to dry after harvesting. Material is rubbed on a rubbing board and then run on the Clipper (office model) seed cleaning machine, using 1/22 round top screen, blank bottom screen with air 50% open. When the seed is harvested by a combine from production fields, it is laid out on tarps and allowed to completely dry. Once dry, the material is run across a scalper with a 12/64 round top screen to remove the large sticks/stems. The next step is to run it across a seed cleaner (Clipper, Model Midget II), with a top screen of 12/64 round, ablank bottom screen and the air 10% open. Then do a second run through the Clipper with 7/64 round top screen, a blank bottom screen and the air 10% open. The harvest weight was 63 pounds and after processing, it was 35 pounds. The seed test had 12% pure seed and 88% inert matter. The seed is so small, it is hard to clean. Seeds/Kg: 2,000,000 seeds per pound.
Pre-Planting Treatments:	Seed Treatments: None. Seed has very low viability.
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	Propagation Environment: Greenhouse for seeding and initial growth at 70øF and lathe house for growing and hardening off. Seed Propagation Method: Plants grown in Rootrainers. The Rootrainer (bookplanter) allows the plug to be removed by the root system. Container Type and Volume: Rootrainers, 1" x 1" x 4" cell size. Growing Media: Metro-Mix 360 media.
Establishment Phase:	Sowing Date: Start plants in greenhouse in February for spring planting. Sowing/Planting Technique: Hand sowing with a light layer of Metro-Mix applied on top after seeding, followed by a through watering. Try to sprinkle 4 to 5 seeds per cell. Establishment Phase: Rootrainers need to be watered regularly. Germination is relatively uniform. Greenhousetemperature should be 70øF. Germination occurs in one to two weeks.
Active Growth Phase:	Rapid Growth Phase: Monitor watering. Fertilization with Miracle-Gro can be applied. Plants can be thinned to 2 plants per cell.
Hardening Phase:	Hardening Phase: The Rootrainers are moved from the greenhouse to outside lathe house in early spring prior to being transplanted.
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:	Harvest Date: October. Storage Conditions: Store dried seed in cooler at 40øF.
References:	Native Plant Propagation Techniques for National Parks, by NRCS and NPS, 1993. Newcomb's Flower Guide, by Lawrence Newcomb. Little Brown and Company, 1977.

Citation:

Van Der Grinten, Martin. 2002. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Solidago canadensis L. plants USDA NRCS - Big Flats Plant Materials Center Corning, New York. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2025/04/20). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.