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Solidago flexicaulis

L.

Broadleaf Goldenrod

G5Secure Found in 32 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.135850
Element CodePDAST8P0N0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderAsterales
FamilyAsteraceae
GenusSolidago
Other Common Names
Verge d'or à tige zigzaguante (FR) Zigzag Goldenrod (EN) zigzag goldenrod (EN)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-08-04
Change Date1984-09-06
Edition Date2025-08-04
Edition AuthorsN. Ventrella (2025)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
Solidago flexicaulis is a perennial forb occurring in shaded woods and thickets of eastern North America, from Ontario east to Nova Scotia, Canada, south to Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, and Kansas in the United States. There are over 1,500 estimate occurrences of this species, which are potentially threatened by development, rights-of-way construction and maintenance, invasive species, and other threats in some places. Little is known about threats and trends, but with a large range extent, large number of occurrences, abundant habitat, and broad habitat preferences, Solidago flexicaulis is considered secure.
Range Extent Comments
Solidago flexicaulis occurs in eastern North America, from Ontario east to Nova Scotia, Canada, south to Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, and Kansas in the United States (FNA 2006, Weakley and the Southeastern Flora Team 2025). Range extent was estimated to be over 3 million square kilometers using herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data collected between 1994 and 2025 (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1994 and 2025, it is estimated that there are more than 1,500 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Threat Impact Comments
Although threats are not widely documented, Solidago flexicaulis is potentially threatened by development, rights-of-way construction and maintenance, invasive species, and other threats in some places. However, their overall impact is likely negligible given the species' broad range, large number of occurrences, tolerance of disturbance, and affinity for typically abundant habitats.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Solidago flexicaulis occurs in shaded woods, thickets, especially over calcareous or mafic rocks, from 0-1200 + m in elevation (FNA 2006, Weakley and the Southeastern Flora Team 2025).

Reproduction

Solidago flexicaulis produces flowers from August through October (FNA 2006).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/Woodland
Other Nations (2)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
New HampshireSNRYes
IndianaSNRYes
NebraskaS1Yes
North CarolinaS2Yes
LouisianaS1Yes
MissouriSNRYes
TennesseeSNRYes
New YorkS5Yes
South DakotaSNRYes
WisconsinSNRYes
VermontS5Yes
MassachusettsSNRYes
South CarolinaSNRYes
VirginiaS5Yes
OhioSNRYes
Rhode IslandS1Yes
MaineSNRYes
PennsylvaniaS5Yes
District of ColumbiaSNRYes
North DakotaS2Yes
ArkansasSNRYes
IowaS4Yes
DelawareS4Yes
KansasS1Yes
MinnesotaSNRYes
West VirginiaS5Yes
MichiganSNRYes
GeorgiaSNRYes
ConnecticutSNRYes
New JerseyS5Yes
KentuckyS5Yes
IllinoisSNRYes
AlabamaSNRYes
MarylandSNRYes
CanadaN5
ProvinceRankNative
New BrunswickS5Yes
Prince Edward IslandS3Yes
QuebecS4Yes
OntarioS5Yes
Nova ScotiaS5Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
Unknown/undetermined———

—

Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (32)
Kentucky (1)
AreaForestAcres
WolfpenDaniel Boone National Forest2,835
Maine (1)
AreaForestAcres
Caribou - Speckled ExtWhite Mountain National Forest5,988
Missouri (1)
AreaForestAcres
Swan Creek Rare II Study AreaMark Twain National Forest7,310
New Hampshire (8)
AreaForestAcres
Carr MountainWhite Mountain National Forest17,110
Great Gulf Ext.White Mountain National Forest15,110
KilkennyWhite Mountain National Forest28,766
Kinsman MountainWhite Mountain National Forest8,999
PemigewassetWhite Mountain National Forest32,255
Pemigewasset ExtWhite Mountain National Forest15,840
Presidential - Dry River ExtWhite Mountain National Forest10,555
Wild RiverWhite Mountain National Forest46,878
North Carolina (4)
AreaForestAcres
Cheoah BaldNantahala National Forest7,795
Chunky Gal (addition)Nantahala National Forest3,336
Little Indian (addition)Nantahala National Forest640
Lost CovePisgah National Forest5,944
Tennessee (1)
AreaForestAcres
Sampson Mountain AdditionCherokee National Forest3,064
Vermont (3)
AreaForestAcres
Bread LoafGreen Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests1,768
Griffith Lake 09084Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests1,833
Wilder Mountain 09082Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests8,759
Virginia (4)
AreaForestAcres
James River AdditionJefferson National Forest1,140
Mt. PleasantGeorge Washington National Forest8,933
Northern MassanuttenGeorge Washington National Forest9,444
Raccoon BranchJefferson National Forest4,388
West Virginia (7)
AreaForestAcres
Cheat MountainMonongahela National Forest8,191
Dry ForkMonongahela National Forest657
East Fork Of GreenbrierMonongahela National Forest7,167
Glady ForkMonongahela National Forest3,239
Little MountainMonongahela National Forest8,172
Mcgowan MountainMonongahela National Forest10,504
Seneca CreekMonongahela National Forest22,287
Wisconsin (2)
AreaForestAcres
09154 - St. Peters DomeChequamegon-Nicolet National Forest4,002
09164 - Tea LakeChequamegon-Nicolet National Forest5,510
References (9)
  1. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2006b. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 20. Magnoliophyta: Asteridae, part 7: Asteraceae, part 2. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxii + 666 pp.
  2. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2025. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2025).
  3. iNaturalist. 2025. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2025).
  4. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  5. Native Plant Trust. 2025. Go Botany website. Online. Available: https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org (accessed 2025).
  6. NatureServe. 2025. NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.
  7. <p>NatureServe's Rapid Analysis of Rarity and Endangerment Conservation Assessment Tool (RARECAT). 2025. Version: 2.1.1 (released April 04, 2025).</p>
  8. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2025. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2025).
  9. Weakley, A.S., and Southeastern Flora Team. 2025. Flora of the southeastern United States Web App. Edition of February 18, 2025. University of North Carolina Herbarium (NCU), North Carolina Botanical Garden, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Online. Available: https://fsus.ncbg.unc.edu (accessed 2025).