About Solidago leavenworthii Torr. & A.Gray
Solidago leavenworthii, commonly known as Leavenworth's goldenrod, is a herbaceous perennial plant species belonging to the Asteraceae family. It is endemic to the southeastern United States, ranging from Florida northward to Georgia and the Carolinas. This perennial herb grows up to 210 cm (80 inches, 6 2/3 feet) tall and spreads via underground rhizomes. Its leaves grow crowded along the stem, with up to 80 leaves per stem; unlike some related species, no leaves cluster around the base of the stalk. A single plant can produce up to 350 small yellow flower heads arranged in a tall, branching cluster at the top of the plant. Wild plants of this species normally grow roughly 3–4 feet (90–120 cm) tall and have a 5% latex yield. Thomas Edison cross-bred this species to produce adapted plants that grow twice as large and have a 12% latex yield.
