365 Urban species. #353: Seaside Goldenrod

[urbpan]

Photos by cottonmanfesto. Location: Castle Island, Boston.

Urban species #353: Seaside goldenrod Solidago sempervirens

Field guides will tell you that seaside goldenrod blooms from Ausust to as late as November. This December is turning out to be pretty special in Boston. For the first time turkey vultures (a species that migrates south of New England in winter) have appeared on the Christmas Bird Count. The unseasonable warmth has meant that I've proclaimed that I was posting my last wildflower two or three times already. This native goldenrod species is a pretty sturdy weed, and in these photographs was just beginning to bloom. When it is mature it will bear a thick plume of yellow flowers. Each flower that makes up the composite blossom is much larger than those of most other goldenrod species.

Like sea rocket, seaside goldenrod has adapted to its salty habitat by developing thick waxy flesh. The spray of salt water along beaches, salt marshes, and coastal cities draws the moisture out of the tissues of other plants.

This late blooming species can be a boon to insects that may still be active. Monarch butterflies that are still straggling along a coastal migration route may depend on finding seaside goldenrod to fuel their journey. Native plants enthusiasts promote the planting of seaside goldenrod because of its attractiveness to pollinators (and humans) and its urban hardiness.

Comments

[phlogiston-5.livejournal.com]

That must be some maritime climate you've got going on there!

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

It's a little spooky. I expected that I'd be trying to find species under the snow by now.

[phlogiston-5.livejournal.com]

I think you are not alone. Even out here in central PA its been unseasonably warm...just not so warm that we get blooming goldenrods.

Although I DID see a Helleborus plant blooming yesterday.

[cottonmanifesto.livejournal.com]

that whole area seems to be somewhat protected. i took this picture there too...

[phlogiston-5.livejournal.com]

Yay for microclimates! It would be neat to do a study about how the presence of small isolated nectar sources influences the phenology of local pollinators.

[cottonmanifesto.livejournal.com]

i didn't notice a single bug. it was pretty windy, though.

[lavenderjones.livejournal.com]

There is a place in Scotland wehre the gulf stream creates such warmth that they can grow palm trees. Scotland AND palm trees... I SO want to live there. I love the grass coming through the metal in that first picture.

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

In Victoria BC I saw a place selling palm trees! That has to be the only place in Canada that can grow palms. That place in Scotland sounds cool!

[lavenderjones.livejournal.com]

And in parts of Victoria you can also grow bananas. I think I would like to live there instead of in the snow belt. I'm not a fan of snow, really..

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

I would love to live there, but the wife wants hot summers. Oh well.

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

I just did some searching and discovered that you're talking about Kintyre, like in the Paul McCartney song!

[lavenderjones.livejournal.com]

Scotland is my favourite place. This area has a beautiful botanic garden. The one in Edinburgh is lovely too.....

Interesting post

[(Anonymous)]

Your article is very informative and helped me further.

Thanks, David

Re: Interesting post

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

You're welcome! Helped you with what?