SYRACUSE — State University of New York scientists have found thriving populations of seaside goldenrod, a plant native to inland salt marshes that they thought had vanished from the region nearly 30 years ago.

The once abundant seaside goldenrod was discovered in three unlikely locations near Interstate 81, including one spot where it was emerging from the asphalt, said SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry forest biologist Don Leopold.

The fact the plants were growing well in seemingly inhospitable locations — heavily trafficked areas that are treated with substantial amounts of salt during the winter — could make them important for urban landscaping, Leopold said.

“The real value is we’ve been trying to find native species to use in a green approach to handling urban run-off. Not only is this plant beautiful, it is quite functional. Instead of building a multimillion treatment plant or allowing the run-off going into our creeks and streams, it looks like this could provide a natural solution,” Leopold said.

Seaside goldenrod is a robust plant up to eight feet tall with large clusters of bright yellow flowers atop dark green leaves. It is highly tolerant of salt spray and saline soils and is scattered along the eastern U.S. coast near the ocean. It’s also an important nectar species for many insects.

The last record of the plant is from 1980, although its disappearance was gradual over the past century as the salt marshes around Onondaga Lake dried up and the land was developed for industry and housing, Leopold said.

“Sometimes you don’t appreciate what you have until it’s gone,” Leopold said.

SUNY scientists hope to promote the use of these species in urban plantings, specifically along roadsides and in urban rain gardens and retention basins.

They said seaside goldenrod is often blamed for triggering allergies, but the real culprit is ragweed, which blooms around the same time.