
Flower profile
Bluestem goldenrod
Solidago caesia
Bluestem goldenrod is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 2 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in September–October.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Connecticut, New York
Quick look
Solidago caesia, commonly named blue-stemmed goldenrod, wreath goldenrod, or woodland goldenrod, is a flowering plant native to North America.
- It belongs to the Asteraceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 31 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to New York and Connecticut. NatureServe
- In New York, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in September–October. iNaturalist
- In Connecticut, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in September–October. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as yellow. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as late spring. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 3 ft. USDA PLANTS
- iNaturalist has 2,660 research-grade sightings of it in New York, ranking #86 among the 109 flowers on our New York list. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 498 research-grade sightings of it in Connecticut, ranking #95 among the 111 flowers on our Connecticut list. iNaturalist
Bluestem goldenrod gift ideas
Handmade bluestem goldenrod gifts from independent makers.
🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.
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Bluestem goldenrod art print
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Bluestem goldenrod greeting card
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Bluestem goldenrod mug
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Bluestem goldenrod earrings
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Bluestem goldenrod embroidery pattern
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Bluestem goldenrod sticker
When does it bloom?
Bloom time in each of our 2 states
| State | Type | Peak bloom | Sightings* |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | Native | September–October | 2,660 |
| Connecticut | Native | September–October | 498 |
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
- New York
- Not listed Not on New York protected native plants (6 NYCRR § 193.3). NatureServe: S5, secure in New York. 6 NYCRR § 193.3
- Connecticut
- Not listed Not on Connecticut Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Plants (RCSA 26-306; 2015 list). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Connecticut. CT E/T/SC list
- Rare elsewhere
- Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: WI (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no edibility or poison notes on its page), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people. NC State Extension
It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS records bluestem goldenrod in 31 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin.
New York counties with USDA records: Albany, Allegany, Bronx, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chemung, Chenango, Columbia, Delaware, Dutchess, Erie, Essex, Fulton, Genesee, Greene, Jefferson, Kings, Lewis, Livingston, Madison, Monroe, Nassau, New York, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, Orange, Oswego, Otsego, Putnam, Queens, Rensselaer, Richmond, Rockland, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, St. Lawrence, Steuben, Suffolk, Tompkins, Ulster, Warren, Washington, Westchester, Wyoming.
More New York flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile SOCA4.
- iNaturalist, Solidago caesia: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Solidago caesia (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- New York: New York protected native plants (6 NYCRR § 193.3).
- New York: New York prohibited and regulated invasive species (6 NYCRR Part 575).
- Connecticut: Connecticut Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Plants (RCSA 26-306; 2015 list).
- Connecticut: Connecticut prohibited invasive plants (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 22a-381d).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Solidago caesia (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension.
- Photo: Tom Norton via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.


