Delaware State Herb: Sweet Golden Rod (Solidago odora)

Adopted June 24, 1996, Sweet Golden Rod ( Solidago odora ) was named Delaware's State herb. Members of the International Herb Growers and Marketers Association of Delaware suggested that the herb " Solidago Odora ", commonly known as "Sweet Golden Rod", because of its beautiful golden blossoms, would be especially appropriate as the designated herb.

Sweet Golden Rod is both indigenous to Delaware and widespread throughout the State where it is commonly found in our coastal areas and along the edges of marshes and thickets.

Members of the International Herb Growers and Marketers Association of Delaware suggested that the herb "Solidago Odora", commonly known as "Sweet Golden Rod", because of its beautiful golden blossoms, would be especially appropriate as the designated herb. Sweet Golden Rod is both indigenous to Delaware and widespread throughout the State where it is commonly found in our coastal areas and along the edges of marshes and thickets.

Delaware State Herb: Sweet Golden Rod

Solidago, commonly called goldenrods, is a genus of about 100 to 120 species of flowering plants in the aster family, Asteraceae. Most are herbaceous perennial species found in open areas such as meadows, prairies, and savannas.

Young goldenrod leaves are edible. Native Americans used the seeds of some species for food. Herbal teas are sometimes made with goldenrod

Other common names

Sweet goldenrod, wound weed, Blue Mountain tea, sweet-scented goldenrod, anise-scented goldenrod, true goldenrod.

Habitat and range

The fragrant goldenrod is found in dry, sandy soil or pinelands from Nova Scotia south to Florida and west to Arkansas and Texas.

Description of the Goldenrod

Fragrant goldenrod is a slender herb from 2 to 4 feet high with nearly smooth stems. The narrow, pointed, entire leaves, which have a pleasant anise odor when crushed, are 2 to 4 inches long and one-fourth to three-fourths of an inch wide. In summer and fall the numerous small, yellow flowers appear, densely crowded in branched clusters at the end of the stems.

Part used

Delaware Senate Bill Number 364

AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 3 OF TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DESIGNATION OF SOLIDAGO ODORA (SWEET GOLDEN ROD) AS THE OFFICIAL STATE HERB.

WHEREAS, many states across America have designated an official "state herb" to accompany their state flag, state flower, state bird and state bug; and

WHEREAS, the State of Delaware, despite its great wealth of indigenous flora, has never made such a designation; and

WHEREAS, members of the International Herb Growers and Marketers Association of Delaware, aware of this fact, have suggested that the herb "Solidago Odora," commonly known as "Sweet Golden Rod" because of its beautiful, golden blossoms, would be especially appropriate as the subject of such designation; and

WHEREAS, Sweet Golden Rod is both indigenous to Delaware and widespread throughout the state where it is commonly found in our coastal areas along the edges of marshes and thickets; and

WHEREAS, Sweet Golden Rod has many associations with American history and culture, not the least of which is that, following the Boston Tea Party in the 1760's, when Americans protested the imposition by Great Britain of outrageous customs duties by dumping a cargo of English tea into Boston harbor and thereafter boycotting the use of this product which had hitherto been the common beverage of choice throughout the colonies, they turned to herbal tea made from Sweet Golden Rod as a substitute, calling it "Liberty Tea;" and

WHEREAS, prior to that time, the herb had been commonly used by native Americans; and

WHEREAS, Sweet Golden Rod, which has been unfairly and inaccurately blamed over the years for causing hayfever among allergy sufferers, continues in widespread use today as herbal tea and seasoning for cooking, as a natural dye and, when in bloom, as a lovely flower both fresh cut and dried, in which state it is used for various crafts; and

WHEREAS, Sweet Golden Rod blooms are even used in many elegant restaurants as an edible garnish in the presentation of fine meals; and

WHEREAS, the designation of Sweet Golden Rod would be highly appropriate not only in its own right, but as a means whereby Delaware State Government might recognize the increasingly vital role played by herb culture in Delaware's agricultural economy;

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE;

Section 1. Amend Chapter 3, Title 29 of the Delaware Code by adding thereto

a new section, to be designated "§ 313", which new section shall read as follows:

"§3 l 3. State herb.

Solidagu Odora, commonly known as "Sweet Golden Rod," shall be the official herb of the State."

Approved June 24, 1996

Delaware Law

TITLE 29
State Government
General Provisions
CHAPTER 3. STATE SEAL, SONG AND SYMBOLS

§ 313 State herb.

Solidago odora, commonly known as "sweet golden rod," shall be the official herb of the State

Kingdom: Plantae – Plants
    Subkingdom: Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta – Seed plants
    Division: Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
    Subclass: Asteridae
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae ⁄ Compositae – Aster family
Genus: Solidago L. – goldenrod
Species: Solidago odora Aiton – anisescented goldenrod

Delaware State

State Foods

Delaware Symbols

Delaware State Herb

Sweet Golden Rod

(Solidago odora)

Adopted June 24, 1996