# woody goldenrod (*Chrysoma pauciflosculosa*) Woody goldenrod is a tall plant with bright yellow flowers that bloom in late summer. It grows in sunny places and is loved by butterflies and bees! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![woody goldenrod](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/29835401/medium.jpeg) Photo: Alison Northup, CC BY 4.0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/29835401) ## Appearance The woody goldenrod is a unique plant with a tough, woody stem base, unlike most goldenrods. It has stiff, narrow, dark green leaves often dotted with sticky resin glands. Its bright yellow flowers bloom in dense, flat-topped clusters during autumn, standing out vividly. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Asterales - **Family:** Asteraceae - **Genus:** Chrysoma ## Interesting facts - Did you know its scientific name, Chrysoma, means "golden body"? Wow! - It's like a yellow beacon, signaling a last chance for bees and butterflies to find food. - Some people call it a "subshrub" because it's a bit woody, but not quite a tree! - This special plant loves growing in super sandy soils, like those in sunny pine forests. ## Special abilities - **Hardy Woody Base:** Woody goldenrod can grow a tough, woody stem base that helps it survive harsh conditions like drought and even fires. - **Resin Guard:** Woody goldenrod has sticky resin on its leaves that helps protect it from hungry insects and too much sun. - **Late-Season Feast:** Woody goldenrod blooms late in the year, providing a vital source of nectar for pollinators when other flowers are scarce. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 50-150 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Fall - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar for honey production. - **Pollinates:** Common eastern bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — Visits flowers for nectar and pollen. - **Pollinates:** [Monarch butterfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/monarch-butterfly) (*Danaus plexippus*) — Feeds on nectar during its migration. - **Eaten by:** Arcigera flower moth (*Schinia arcigera*) — Larvae feed on the flowers and seeds. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [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. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch wild plants, as some can be prickly or cause allergies. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify woody 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 woody goldenrod? 50-150 cm ### How wide does woody goldenrod spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on woody goldenrod? 0.5-1.5 cm ### When does woody goldenrod bloom? Fall ### Is woody goldenrod edible? No ### Is woody goldenrod toxic? None ### What is woody goldenrod's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Doctor Julian G. Bruce Saint George Island State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/doctor-julian-g-bruce-saint-george-island-state-park) — Florida, US · State Park - [Saint Andrews State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/saint-andrews-state-park) — Florida, US · State Park - [Saint Joseph Peninsula State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/saint-joseph-peninsula-state-park) — Florida, US · State Park [View all places to see woody goldenrod](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/woody-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: [Woody Goldenrod: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/woody-goldenrod)