Wisconsin's rare plants

Bluestem goldenrod is an erect forb, 4-15dm tall, with an inflorescence that is chiefly axillary, sometimes branched, 1-5 ray florets, and 5-8 disk florets. Its fruit are hairy achenes. Leaves are chiefly cauline, may or may not be serrate, acuminate, smooth or slightly hairy, lanceolate or lance-elliptic, 6-12cm long by 1-3cm wide, and taper to sessile or obscurely short-petiolate base. Its cylindrical (terete) stem is covered with a bluish-white waxy coating.

Rhizomatous. Blooming occurs late-August through late-September, fruiting throughout September.

Perennial. The optimal identification period for this species is early-August through September.

Associated species include Acer saccharum, Fagus grandifolia, Tilia americana, Quercus alba, Q borealis, Erythronium americanum, Podophyllum peltatum, Smilacina racemosa, and Geranium maculatum.

Bluestem goldenrod is found in hardwood forests with rich, sometimes clayey soils, along Lake Michigan.

Avoid known individual plant locations and conduct operations elsewhere when they are least likely to cause damage. Ideally, this would involve frozen, snow-covered ground. However, in areas of the state where frozen conditions are unreliable, very dry soils late in the growing season might be the best available alternative. Consult with a biologist, if needed.

Avoid broadcast spraying of herbicides and use care with spot spraying.

This species requires shaded habitat conditions, maintain high forest canopy cover.

Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) are associated with habitats (or natural communities) and places on the landscape. Understanding relationships among SGCN, natural communities and ecological landscapes help us make decisions about issues affecting SGCN and their habitat and how to respond. Download the Wildlife Action Plan association score spreadsheet to explore rare species, natural communities and ecological landscape associations

Conservation actions respond to issues or threats, which adversely affect species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) or their habitats. Besides actions such as restoring wetlands or planting resilient tree species in northern communities, research, surveys and monitoring are also among conservation actions described in the Wisconsin Wildlife Action Plan because lack of information can threaten our ability to successfully preserve and care for natural resources.