Alternate name: Wrinkle-leaf Goldenrod, Rough-leaf Goldenrod

Family: Asteraceae, Aster view all from this family

Description Tall, rough, hairy stem bears divergent, or arching, branches with small, light yellow flower heads concentrated on the upper side.
Flowers: heads about 1/6" (4 mm) long, each with 6-11 ray flowers and 4-7 disk flowers.
Leaves: 1 1/2-5" (3.8-12.5 cm) long, rough, sharply toothed, very hairy, and wrinkled.
Height: 1-6' (30-180 cm).

Flower July-October.

Habitat Fields, roadsides, and borders of woods.

Range Ontario to Nova Scotia and Newfoundland; New England south to Florida; west to Texas; north to Michigan.

Discussion This highly variable goldenrod can form large masses in fields that were once cultivated. Physicians in ancient times believed that goldenrod had healing powers; in recent times these plants have been popularly blamed for causing hay fever, but its irritating symptoms are actually caused by ragweed (Ambrosia species), whose pollen is abundant when goldenrod is in flower.