# Flat-Topped Goldenrod (*euthamia graminifolia*) The Flat-Topped Goldenrod is a beautiful yellow flower that grows in fields and along roadsides! It attracts many butterflies and bees, making it a favorite spot for little explorers. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger - **Snaps:** 5 - **Habitat:** Flat-Topped Goldenrod grows in sunny fields, meadows, and along roadsides. - **Also known as:** Euthamia, Flat-Topped Euthamia ![Flat-Topped Goldenrod](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Euthamia_graminifolia_%28USDA%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Euthamia_graminifolia_%28USDA%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Flat-Topped Goldenrod has numerous bright yellow flowers densely packed into flat-topped clusters, unlike the plume-like shapes of other goldenrods. Its leaves are unusually narrow and grass-like, linear in shape, arranged along slender green stems. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Asterales - **Family:** Asteraceae - **Genus:** Euthamia ## Interesting facts - It's sometimes called "Grass-leaved Goldenrod" because of its thin leaves. - Native Americans sometimes made a yellow dye from its flowers and leaves. - Often mistaken for hay fever culprits, but its pollen is heavy and sticky! - This plant is a superstar for pollinators, providing late-season food! ## Special abilities - **Rhizome Power-Up:** Flat-Topped Goldenrod can spread rapidly underground using rhizomes that help it colonize new areas. - **Nectar Beacon:** Flat-Topped Goldenrod has abundant, sweet nectar that attracts many different insects, helping it to reproduce. - **Tough Stems:** Flat-Topped Goldenrod has strong, rigid stems that help it stand tall and resist being knocked down by wind. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 50-150 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late summer to fall - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits flowers for nectar and pollen. - **Pollinates:** [Monarch Butterfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/monarch-butterfly) (*Danaus plexippus*) — Feeds on nectar, helping transfer pollen. - **Eats:** Goldenrod Leaf Beetle (*Trirhabda virgata*) — Larvae and adults feed on the leaves. ## Traits - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Flat-Topped Goldenrod? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Flat-Topped Goldenrod? 50-150 cm ### How wide does Flat-Topped Goldenrod spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on Flat-Topped Goldenrod? 0.2-0.5 cm ### When does Flat-Topped Goldenrod bloom? Late summer to fall ### Is Flat-Topped Goldenrod edible? No ### Is Flat-Topped Goldenrod toxic? None ### What is Flat-Topped Goldenrod's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Joseph E. Ibberson Conservation Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/joseph-e-ibberson-conservation-area) — Pennsylvania, US · State Park - [Morris Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/morris-arboretum) — Pennsylvania, US · Botanical Garden - [Assinins](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/assinins) — Michigan, US · Neighborhood - [Bailey Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bailey-arboretum) — New York, US · Botanical Garden - [Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/planting-fields-arboretum-state-historic-park) — New York, US · Botanical Garden - [Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sabbathday-lake-shaker-village) — Maine, US · Neighborhood [View all places to see Flat-Topped Goldenrod](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/flat-topped-goldenrod) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Flat-Topped Goldenrod: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/flat-topped-goldenrod)