Gray Goldenrod

Solidago nemoralis, commonly called old field goldenrod, is a rhizomatous, upright perennial of the sunflower family that typically grows to a very compact .5' to 1' tall (infrequently to 3' tall). It is one of the smallest of the many species of goldenrod. It is native to North America across the southern provinces of Canada from Newfoundland to British Columbia and in the U. S. from Maine to Florida west to Montana and New Mexico. 

This erect perennial typically features a clump of 1-6 unbranched gray-green stems densely covered with short white hairs. 

Flowering from August to November, the stems are topped with narrow, often downward-arching, one-sided, bright yellow flower plumes (panicles to 4-10" long), with the flowerheads (each to 1/4" across") primarily located on the upper side of each panicle. Flowerheads are replaced after blooming by hairy achenes.

Goldenrods are attractive to bees and butterflies.