Solidago, commonly called goldenrod, is a genus of about 100 to 120 species of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. Most are herbaceous perennial species found in open areas such as meadows, prairies, and savannas. They are mostly native to North America, including Mexico; a few species are native to South America and Eurasia. Some American species have also been introduced into Europe and other parts of the world.
Researchers found that Canadian goldenrod, an invasive plant in many parts of the world, can clean cadmium-contaminated soil effectively, and that adding biochar to the soil boosts this cleanup while also reducing the plant's production of chemicals that suppress neighboring plants. Microplastics in the soil complicate the process in polymer-specific ways, but biochar largely offsets the problems they cause.
