Broad-leaved Goldenrod

Solidago flexicaulis, aka zigzag goldenrod, is eye-catching during its bloom time August to October. Preferring the shade of forested areas, the large leaves and erect, singly columned clusters of flowers are distinctively showy. Leaves are up to 5″ long and 3″ wide, broadly rounded around the base and very coarsely toothed around the margins. Plant height is 1 to 3 feet tall.

A true goldenrod in the Solidago genus, this plant is unique in comparison to other goldenrods. Besides the zigzag arrangement of the flowers on the stem, its preference for shade is another characteristic that distinguishes this species from its other more sun-loving cousins. The photo on the top gives an idea why it is also called the zigzag plant, as the ascending stem can wind or zigzag between the alternating leaves.