Photo by Gary Kurtz
Stiff goldenrod is a native perennial that typically grows between three to five feet tall. Its bright yellow flowers are arranged in dense, flat-topped clusters, with each flower measuring about 3/8 inch in diameter and the entire inflorescence spanning two to five inches across. The plant’s leaves are stiff and rough-textured, with basal leaves reaching up to 10 inches long and five inches wide. Leaves along the stem are alternately arranged, with lower leaves being oblong and up to eight inches long and two inches wide, while upper leaves are lance-shaped and stalkless. Stiff goldenrod thrives in prairies, dry fields, and open woodlands, preferring full sun and a variety of soils, including dry, sandy, and rocky soils. (SF)