Zigzag Goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis)
A Keystone of Autumn’s Understory
As summer winds down and woodland blooms fade, Zigzag Goldenrod steps forward as a keystone of the shaded understory. This native perennial, rising two to three feet tall, forms dense colonies of golden flowers that illuminate the forest floor. Its upright, unbranched stems zigzag gently between broad-ovate leaves—two to five inches long, coarsely toothed, and shaped from ovate to lanceolate.
Thriving in rich deciduous woodlands, especially on protected slopes, Solidago flexicaulis offers a vital lifeline to native pollinators. Bees. butterflies, and other beneficial insects get their final stores before winter sets in. As other wildflowers retreat, Zigzag Goldenrod fills a critical ecological gap—sustaining life when resources grow scarce. (SF)