About Solidago odora Aiton
Solidago odora Aiton, commonly called sweet goldenrod, anise-scented goldenrod, or fragrant goldenrod, is a North American goldenrod species belonging to the Asteraceae family. It is native to the United States and Mexico. Its range extends along the coast from Veracruz to New Hampshire, and inland as far as Ohio, Missouri, and Oklahoma. This species flowers from July to October, and grows in habitats including live oak woodlands, loblolly pine-sweetgum stands, and slash pine savannas.
Two subspecies are currently recognized: Solidago odora subsp. odora, which occurs across most of the species' full range, and Solidago odora subsp. chapmanii (Gray) Semple, which is found only in Florida and southern Georgia. It has a long history of use in traditional ethnobotanical medicine, particularly among the Cherokee people. When crushed, its leaves release a licorice scent, and can be brewed to make tea.
