Western Goldentop

Scientific Name: Euthamia occidentalis Nutt.

Plant Guide

Description

General: Composite family (Asteraceae). Western goldentop is a rhizomatous perennial forb with erect stems reaching as much as 2m (6 ft) in height. The erect stems have many sessile, cauline, leaves, linear in outline 2 to 10 cm (0.8 to 4 in) long and 1 to 10 mm wide. The inflorescence is a large, flat-topped corymb composed of multiple small yellow flower heads. The fruit is a small achene with numerous white capillary bristles (Cronquist et al., 1994). The PLANTS Database lists western goldentop as having 250,000 seeds/lb (USDA NRCS 2017), however the authors feel this number is excessively low. Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis), a close relative with similar flower and seed morphology, has over 4 million seeds per pound. We feel 2,500,000 may be a more realistic figure for this species, but no official seed counts were made. Distribution: Western goldentop is found in western North America from Nebraska west to California, north to British Columbia and south to Arizona and New Mexico. For current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site. Habitat: Western goldentop is commonly found in riparian areas, coastal salt marshes, freshwater wetlands, and wet meadow habitats, often growing in association with cattail, rushes, and sedges (Hickman, 1993, Welsh et al., 2003).

Adaptation

Western goldentop is adapted to the wetter environments in the west. It requires approximately 400 to 800 mm (16-32 in) mean annual precipitation (USDA NRCS 2017), but can be found in riparian or marshy environments in areas receiving less precipitation. It is adapted to a broad range of soil textures and can grow in pH levels of 4.5-7.0 (USDA NRCS 2017).

Uses

Pollinators: Western goldentop is an excellent species for pollinator habitat in riparian and wet meadow areas in the west. It is attractive to bees and butterflies, and is a noted monarch nectar plant for the Rocky Mountain and California Coast regions (Fallon et al., 2016a; Fallon et al., 2016b). It is also a good rhizomatous candidate for increasing diversity and adding pollinator value to grass filter strips (Mäder et al., 2014). Agriculture: Western goldentop has been used successfully in hedgerows in Central California (Long and Anderson, 2010). Benefits of hedgerow plantings include enhanced weed control, air and water quality protection, soil erosion control, biodiversity and increased beneficial insect activity. Livestock: Western goldentop has low palatability to livestock (USDA NRCS 2017).

Status

Threatened or Endangered: No, Use soil moisture sensors to measure the soil moisture of Western Goldentop., Wetland Indicator: Western goldentop is considered a facultative wetland species (FACW) in the Arid West and Western Mountains, Valleys, and Coast, and an obligate (OBL) wetland species in the Great Plains (USDA NRCS 2017),

Planting Guidelines

The full stand rate for an estimated 2,500,000 seeds per pound would be approximately 1 lb/ac. The actual seeding rate should be adjusted to reflect the desired percentage of the overall mix. Aberdeen Plant Materials Center produced containerized western goldentop from seed originating in Yosemite National Park. Five to ten seeds were placed on the soil surface and pressed for good seed-to-soil contact into Sunshine Mix #4. Seed was lightly covered with pea gravel, and the soil surface kept moist with 20 minutes of daily irrigation from overhead sprinklers for the first 30 days. Day time greenhouse temperatures ranged from 24 to 29° C (75 t 85° F). Night time temperatures averaged around 21° C (70° F). The seed lot had very high viability and most cones contained multiple plants and required significant thinning as too many plants per cone significantly retarded growth. After full establishment, plants were fertilized once per week with Miracle Grow All Purpose Plant Food (15-30-15). After 30 days the irrigation schedule was changed to 40 to 60 minutes every other day to encourage root growth (Tilley, 2016).

Management

Western goldentop should be used as a minor component of pollinator and restoration seed mixtures. Management strategies should be based on the key species in the established plant community. Grazing should be deferred on seeded lands for at least two growing seasons to allow for full stand establishment (Ogle et al., 2014).

Pests and Potential Problems

There are no known pests or potential problems associated with this species.

Environmental Concerns

Concerns

Concerns

Western goldentop is native to western North America. It will spread under favorable conditions but does not pose any environmental concern to native plant communities under proper management.

Seeds and Plant Production

Plant Production

Plant Production

Small scale field and wildland collections can be made by beating the seeds off the plant into a bin or bag, or by clipping the flower heads. Seed is cleaned by running the collected material through a hammer mill or brush machine followed by sieving and air-screening. Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin) Limited quantities of wildland collected seed may be available from commercial sources. There are currently no commercial releases of western goldentop. Seed sources should be selected based on the local climate, resistance to local pests, and intended use. Consult with your local land grant university, local extension or local USDA NRCS office for recommendations for use in your area.

Literature Cited

Cronquist, A., Holmgren, A.H., Holmgren, N.H., Reveal, J.L. and P.K. Holmgren. 1994. Intermountain Flora, Vascular Plants of the Intermountain West, U.S.A. Volume 5: Asterales. The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY. 496p. Fallon, C., Adamson, N.L., Jepsen, S. and M. Vaughan. 2016a. Monarch Nectar Plants Rocky Mountains. The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. Fallon, C., Adamson, N.L., Jepsen, S., Sardinas, H. Stine, A. and M. Vaughan. 2016b. Monarch Nectar Plants California Coast. The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. Hickman, J.C. 1993. The Jepson manual. Higher plants of California. University of California Press. 1399 pp. Long, R.F. and J. H. Anderson. 2010. Establishing hedgerows on farms in California. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. Publication 8390. Mäder, E., Hopwood, J. Morandin, L., Vaughan, M. and S.H. Black. 2014. Farming with Native Beneficial Insects. Storey Publishing. North Adams, MA. 257p. Ogle, D., Tilley, D., St. John, L. Stannard, M. and L. Holzworth. 2014. Technical Note 24: Conservation plant species for the Intermountain West. USDA-NRCS, Boise, ID-Salt Lake City, UT-Spokane, WA. ID-TN 24. 72p. Tilley, Derek. 2016. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Euthamia occidentalis Nutt. Plants USDA NRCS - Aberdeen Plant Materials Center Aberdeen, Idaho. In: Native Plant Network. URL: http://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2017/11/27). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources. USDA, NRCS 1999. The PLANTS database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. <http://plants.usda.gov> Version: 05APR1999. Welsh, S.L., Atwood, N.D., Goodrich, S., and L.C. Higgins. 2003. A Utah Flora. Third Edition, revised. Brigham Young University, Provo, UT. Citation Tilley, D. and T. Pickett. 2017. Plant Guide for western goldentop (Euthamia occidentalis). USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, Aberdeen Plant Materials Center. Aberdeen, ID. 83210. Published: December 2017 Edited: For more information about this and other plants, please contact your local NRCS field office or Conservation District at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/ and visit the PLANTS Web site at http://plants.usda.gov/ or the Plant Materials Program Web site: http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov. PLANTS is not responsible for the content or availability of other Web sites. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.) If you wish to file an employment complaint, you must contact your agency's EEO Counselor (PDF) within 45 days of the date of the alleged discriminatory act, event, or in the case of a personnel action. Additional information can be found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_file.html. If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (PDF), found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities and you wish to file either an EEO or program complaint please contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339 or (800) 845-6136 (in Spanish). Persons with disabilities who wish to file a program complaint, please see information above on how to contact us by mail directly or by email. If you require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) please contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). For any other information dealing with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) issues, persons should either contact the USDA SNAP Hotline Number at (800) 221-5689, which is also in Spanish or call the State Information/Hotline Numbers. For any other information not pertaining to civil rights, please refer to the listing of the USDA Agencies and Offices for specific agency information.

Plant Traits

Growth Requirements

Morphology/Physiology

Reproduction

Suitability/Use