Goldenrod for tea, salve… and tires?
Some unfortunate folks begin sneezing this time of year, so let’s clear the air, so to speak. There are at least 60 species of goldenrod in the eastern half of our country. It is a member of the aster family which bears golden flowers in late summer. The pollen in goldenrod does not disperse widely because it is gummy and thereby heavy enough to stay close to home. Ragweed, however, blooms with yellow flowers about the same time as goldenrod, and it’s your sneezy culprit.
There is a species of goldenrod named for the Ouachita Mountains. The plants on my property are probably Solidago altissima, which means I’m in for good fortune because legend maintains having goldenrod growing around your property is a lucky omen. Good. I’m ready.
Goldenrod has a history. Remember Saladin? If the 12th century Mideast were golf, Saladin was Tiger Woods. He was emperor of both Syria and Egypt! With his leadership, the locals defeated a big batch of invading European crusaders, but history remembers him most for his affinity for goldenrod. His physicians used it medicinally, word spread throughout the realm, and 400 years later Queen Elizabeth learned about it.
Goldenrod had a medicinal legacy to uphold when it debuted in England, but clever locals used it to make beer. They also used the leaves for tea, and so did rebellious Americans after they dumped British tea into Boston Harbor.
In Herbal Renaissance, Steven Foster stated, “I’ve tried dozens of herb teas– some nauseating, others tasty– but my favorite is unequivocally sweet goldenrod. I feel this North American native should be grown in every herb garden, here and abroad.” His favorite species was S. odora.
Young goldenrod leaves are edible and, though small, have long been used as a leaf vegetable. The leaves and flowers can be used in lotions and salves medicinally. The European Medicines Agency affirmed with lab tests what centuries of commonfolk had already experienced – goldenrod performed well as an anti-bacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory agent. Because of its antiseptic properties, it has been recommended for bladder and kidney infections. The lab studies also revealed there was not a particular component of the plant that stood out. Positive results came when the entire flower was used.
In Chippewa culture, burns were treated with a poultice from S. altissima. The Iroquois made an infusion of leaves from their local species to relieve nausea, and folks from the Cherokee nation made an infusion to treat colds and fevers. Some chewed the leaves for sore throats or the root to relieve toothaches. Centuries ago, people like us figured out a myriad medicinal uses for goldenrod – a common plant growing along trails.
But you did not expect this. Thomas Edison – yes, light bulb Edison – worked on a process to extract rubber (!) from the leaves of goldenrod plants. He grew plants 12 feet tall for the latex with which he made rubber. Henry Ford gave Edison a Model T with tires made from goldenrod rubber.
Because the concept was so intriguing, Ford and Harvey Firestone continued after Edison’s death to work closely with George Washington Carver to develop synthetic rubber to fill in the gap during the rubber shortage in World War II. As it turned out, goldenrod rubber was, according to one report, “an excessively tacky compound with poor tensile properties.” The government did use Edison’s formula for goldenrod rubber to make belts.
From rubber to tea, a salve for your knee, and flowers for bees… goldenrod has been referred to as a keystone species because of its importance to pollinator biodiversity. Certain bee species prefer goldenrods above all others, and butterfly larva nest on them. Wasps also like to party in the goldenrod patch.
A gardener can grow goldenrod from seeds or transplants. Once established, a plant will send out rhizomes that sprout more plants, and soon enough you might have clumps with bright yellow flowers in late summer. I use the leaves for tea. I get my tires in Berryville.