Alternate name: Meadow Goldenrod, Northern California Goldenrod

Family: Asteraceae, Aster view all from this family

Description Native herbaceous perennial. Spreads by rhizome; may form large colonies.
Habit: strong and upright; solitary hairy stem.
Height: 1-5 ft (30-150 cm).
Leaf: alternate, gray-green, hairy; near the base, narrow, pointed, serrated, 6 in (15 cm) long; upper leaves smaller, entire, oval.
Flower: many small shaggy yellow to gold flowerheads, to 1 in (25 mm) wide, with stubby sparse rays and a shaggy center; held in a long dense cluster at the end of the stem.

Flower Summer/fall: June-October.

Habitat Dry or moist; open or shaded; coastal scrub, woodland edges, forests, valley grassland, disturbed areas; to 8000 ft (2400 m).

Range Native to western North America from Oregon to Baja California. Now cultivated as an ornamental.

Discussion Also known as: western goldenrod. Goldenrods are often thought to cause hay fever, but they are not major allergens for most peope.