Zig-Zag Goldenrod

Native distribution

Native to the Finger Lakes Region

Cultivation

A 1-4' tall goldenrod with clusters of yellow flower heads along a ""zig-zagging"" stem.
Light: sun to shade
Moisture and Soil: dry to moist soil (likes rich woodlands)

Propagation

Seed Treatment and Storage: store seed cool & dry; cold/moist stratify 60-90 days OR sow at 70 deg. F.

Biocultural value

The Chippewa chewed zigzag goldenrod root for a sore throat, the Haudenosaunee took a compound decoction of the plant to treat billiousness, the Menominee made a snuff of the dried leaves for headaches, and the Potawatomi treated fevers with whole-plant infusion.

Wildlife value

Many songbirds consume small amounts of goldenrod seed, while grouse and other gamebirds eat the leaves. Small mammals and white-tailed deer also eat the seed heads and foliage from time to time. Zigzag goldenrod is a larval host plant for the bilobed dichomeris (Dichomeris bilobella), brown hooded owlet (Cucullia convexipennis), and twirler moth (Gnorimoschema gallaeasterella). Most floral visitors, including sweat bees (Lasioglossum spp.), yellow-faced bees (Hylaeus spp.) and green sweat bees (Agapostemon spp), visit the flowers for nectar. Only a few species collect pollen from zigzag goldenrod, among them the specialist mining bees Andrena hirticincta, A. placata, and A. simplex, which only visit goldenrods and asters.

Poisonous

no

Location

Mundy Wildflower Garden, Bald Hill and Caroline Pinnacles, Coy Glen, Edwards Lake Cliffs Preserve, Fischer Old-growth Forest, Slaterville 600, McLean Bogs, Eames Bog, Ringwood Ponds

Status

L4|S5|G5